The ruling New Patriotic Party, NPP, has said that it has zero tolerance for the activities of LGBTQ+ organizations.
Speaking at the Eastern Regional Delegates Conference in Kyebi, General Secretary of the NPP, John Boadu said: “The NPP will not support the activities of the LGBTQI+ community. We respect the rights of the individuals but cannot support actions that are against our principles. But should there be a regulation, we would ensure that their rights are protected, but we will not support LGBTQI+ activities.”
Several Members of Parliament have introduced a private member’s bill to combat LGBTQI activity called the ‘Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021.’
The law has sparked considerable debate, with individuals expressing divergent opinions on many of the document’s provisions.
Numerous individuals and institutions have sent memoranda in favor of the Bill and to assist in its refinement.
We won’t obstruct Legal Committee from doing its work – Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader in Parliament, previously promised that the House’s leadership would not oppose any decision to open up committee procedures on the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill to the public.
Only the Chairman of the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee has the authority to open committee hearings to the public during the deliberation stage, he said.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, the Majority Leader said that the committee will be permitted to make its own decision on the request for a public hearing on the Bill’s memoranda and petitions.
There is nothing to conceal, he asserts, and the committee will be given with a conducive atmosphere in which to do its work.
“Parliament shouldn’t have anything to hide because the issues are out there in the public space. So if the committee decides to have public hearings, I wouldn’t have anything against it. However, our standing orders provide that at committee levels, sittings should be in-camera unless the Chairman otherwise decides.”
“So we want them to have that siren atmosphere, to do that consideration. So if they decide to open it up, I am not sure leadership will stand in their way.”
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