Parliament has passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill (anti-LGBTQ+).
The bill is set to criminalise the promotion, advocacy, funding and acts of homosexuality.
It stiffens prison terms up to ten years in prison for LGBTQ+ advocates and three years for anyone identifying as such.
Prior to the passage, the bill had faced crucial amendments over the past months. The House on Wednesday had to make clarifications on two major clauses that did not align with the Constitution.
This called for a further second consideration of the bill despite it reaching a third reading. The two clauses were on media freedom and fundamental human rights.
Per the standing orders, a gap of at least one sitting day before the third reading of a bill, but a motion was approved through voice voting to suspend article 172 of the revised Standing Orders to allow the third reading to take place.
The enacted law seeks to outlaw LGBTQ+ activities and penalises their promotion, advocacy, and funding.
Prior to the passage, the Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin prayed that the Speaker accepts a motion he filed on clause 12 of the bill which deals with the funding of LGBTQ+ activities to be subjected to the 1992 Constitution, however, Speaker Bagbin rejected the prayer and proceeded with the third reading.
Reporting by Andy Sepah in Parliament, Accra
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