Anti-LGBT bill: Let Attorney General take it up or it could be an exercise in futility – Majority Leader

Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has suggested that the Executive, through the Attorney General, Godfred Dame could sponsor the anti-LGBT bill, instead of the current approach of its being laid before parliament through private members.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Wednesday, he said when this is done, it will forestall possible legal challenges against the bill when passed into law.

“What if Parliament passes the law and the next day somebody takes it up to the Supreme Court and the Court says that no, this clearly is something beyond Parliament. Parliament on its own couldn’t do that, it will then turn out to be an exercise in futility.

However, to the extent that all of us agree on that, if the Executive, the Attorney General to pre-empt such a situation, could take it up, I wouldn’t worry because we want the best for the country.” Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu pointed out.

Commenting on whether the bill imposes a cost on the consolidated fund, The legislator said “a bill of such nature will establish structures and its implementation will certainly exact cost on the purse of the country without a doubt.”

“I am asking myself what will be the end product if we did it and then it ended up being pronounced on, as overstepping our bounds? But to the extent that we agree with the principle, what better way to do it. Let’s have the think through about it,” he said.

Background

The anti-LGBT bill is otherwise known as, ‘The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill’, was presented to Speaker Alban Bagbin on June 29, 2021.

The proponents want the promotion, advocacy, funding, and acts of homosexuality to be criminalized in the country. The MP for Ningo Prampram is one of the leading proponents advocating for the bill to be passed into law.

However, there are others who are also opposing the bill saying the state has no business meddling in the sexual preference of consenting adults.

The coalition comprises, among others, private Legal Practitioners, Akoto Ampaw, Professor Emerita Takyiwaa Manuh, Professor Kwame Karikari, Professor Kofi Gyimah-Boadi, Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, and Professor Raymond Atuguba.

The bill is currently being handled the Committee on Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs.

The Committee has so far received over 124 memoranda from the public over the anti-LGBTQI+ Bill, which is currently before the House for consideration.