The parliamentary minority has criticized the amendments to the Human Sexual Rights and Household Values ​​Invoice 2025, arguing that the amended model handed by Parliament final Friday has misplaced the deterrent energy and effectiveness of the unique invoice authorized within the eighth Congress in 2024.
Talking at a press convention in Accra on Monday (1 June 2026), Assin South Member of Parliament (MP) John Nitim Fordjule mentioned the modifications weakened the invoice’s capability to handle the promotion, advocacy and sponsorship of LGBTQ+ actions, which was one of many main aims of the unique invoice.
The Deputies expressed concern that a number of exceptions launched within the revised invoice may undermine its effectiveness and create loopholes that may very well be exploited to facilitate the actions the invoice seeks to ban.
“We’re not towards the legislative energy of Congress, however we’re not attacking members in any manner. All we’re saying is that our issues are two-fold. Not solely does this invoice come into play, it has primarily misplaced the ability, the chunk, the momentum, the deterrent, the effectiveness that it contained and had in 2024,” he mentioned.
exemption
Mr. Fordjule notably criticized the provisions of part 9 of the invoice concerning the prohibition of propaganda, promotion or advocacy of acts prohibited by the invoice.
He reiterated that this exemption applies to authorized practitioners who present authorized illustration, those that make submissions to courts and tribunals, teachers and researchers who publish scientific or medical opinions, journalists who report within the bizarre course of their work, and establishments concerned in public well being interventions.
“My fellow Ghanaians, please. These are harmful dilutions. These are harmful deletions and insertions, and so they shouldn’t be allowed to proceed. We would like the outdated invoice. The outdated invoice is the deterrent, the one which sinks our enamel,” he mentioned.
change stance
Ashin South argued that present regulation already criminalizes same-sex sexual relations, and argued that the invoice’s principal objective is to discourage the promotion and advocacy of LGBTQ+ causes.
“The query is, what has modified? What has modified in our values ​​between 2024 and now? Have Ghanaians modified their values ​​in the direction of LGBTQ since 2024? If nothing has modified in our values, then this invoice, which 93 per cent of the folks suppose is essential, ought to be the identical invoice. It issues to Ghanaians at the moment. What has modified?” he requested.
Ford-Jules mentioned there are 31 amendments, together with deletions and insertions, that have an effect on a number of provisions within the invoice, and argued that the amended invoice is considerably completely different from the one handed by Parliament in 2024.
The lawmaker additionally claimed that among the new provisions weren’t included in committee deliberations or discussions through the invoice’s consideration.
restore outdated invoices
Whereas reiterating the minority’s help for the Human Rights and Household Values ​​Invoice, Ford-Jules confused that the caucus just isn’t against Congress’ legislative powers.
However he referred to as for restoring what he referred to as the unique model of the invoice handed in 2024.
“We would like the outdated invoice to be launched. The outdated invoice is the deterrent, the one with enamel to chunk. If you wish to say that Mahama did what Akufo-Addo could not do, you might be speaking concerning the invoice that was handed in 2024, President Mahama, signal the invoice because it was handed,” he mentioned.
