Samuel Nartey George, the lead advocate for the newly passed bill on Human Sexual Rights and Family Values, is holding onto hope that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will honour his commitment by formally enacting the legislation.
He said, “We believe this will be communicated from the Speaker’s Secretariat expeditiously to His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.”
This bill, often referred to as the anti-LGBTQ bill, was officially approved by Parliament on Wednesday, February 28 and it aims to outlaw LGBT activities by making their promotion, advocacy, and financial support criminal offences.
Individuals found engaging in such activities face potential imprisonment ranging from six months to three years, while those who promote or sponsor these acts could receive jail terms of three to five years.
In anticipation of the bill’s passage, its proponents had submitted a motion for it to undergo a further stage of consideration.
Following the bill’s successful passage, Sam George expressed to the media in Accra his conviction that President Akufo-Addo would fulfil his promise of not allowing gay activities under his watch by assenting to the bill.
He said, “It is our hope, our prayer, and belief that President Akufo-Addo will be a man of his word and stick to the words he spoke to the Anglican Church in the Eastern Region when he said under his watch LGBTQ will not be established.”
Sam George emphasized that “There is nothing that deals with LGBTQ better than this bill that has just been passed by Parliament. We expect the President to walk his talk and be a man of his word.”
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Source: Eric Sekyi/ATLFMNEWS