Speaker Bagbin orders clerk to transmit anti-gay bill to Akufo-Addo, despite injunction

The Speaker of Parliament has disclosed he has instructed the Clerk of Parliament to transmit the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly known as the Anti-gay Bill, to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for assent into law, despite an injunction.

Addressing the media on Tuesday, in Accra, the Speaker accused the executive and judiciary of scheming to undermine the authority of Parliament.

He made the point that the President has no authority to instruct Parliament not to transmit the bill to him for assent.

He added that the judiciary, which is hearing two suits against him on the Anti-Gay Bill, cannot interfere in the process of Parliament when it is performing its legislative duties, stressing that the judiciary can only act on the bill when it becomes a law.

The Parliament of Ghana, on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, passed the Promotion of Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.

The bill, currently awaiting presidential assent, outlaws Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) activities and criminalises their promotion, advocacy, and funding.

Persons caught in these acts will be subjected to a six-month to three-year jail term, with promoters and sponsors facing a three to five-year jail term.

The bill now requires presidential assent to come into force within seven days. However, if President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo refuses to assent to the bill, Parliament, by a two-thirds majority vote, can pass it into law.

The Office of the President has instructed the Parliament of Ghana not to attempt to transmit the bill until two legal actions against it in the Supreme Court are resolved.

BAI/BB

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