Accra, Ghana – The Speaker of Parliament’s recent expression of surprise regarding the passage of the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill in its current form has been cited by a co-sponsor of the bill as vindication for the Minority’s persistent concerns about the legislative process. John Ntim Fordjour, the Member of Parliament for Assin South, stated on Joy FM’s Newsnight on Monday, June 1, that the Speaker’s comments, coupled with an announced intention to convene a meeting to review the process, bolster claims that the bill’s passage occurred under questionable circumstances.
Minority Raised Procedural and Substantive Objections
Mr. Fordjour highlighted that the Minority had consistently voiced objections concerning both the substance and the procedural handling of the legislation. He argued that the bill underwent significant alterations during its passage, deviating substantially from its original intent.
“The Speaker has come and had this remark that he is surprised that the bill was passed in the manner they did and in the form they produced it, and he is surprised, and that he is going to call for a meeting to discuss the way forward,” Mr. Fordjour said. “That vindicates our position and that vindicates all the concerns we raised and drew the attention of Ghana to.”
Allegations of Amendments and Lack of Transparency
The Assin South MP detailed his view that the bill was fundamentally altered through extensive amendments. He described these changes as having “bastardised” the bill, rendering it “substantially and materially different—completely bastardised and not fit for purpose.”
Furthermore, Mr. Fordjour alleged a lack of transparency in the process leading to the bill’s final approval. He claimed that certain amendments were “smuggled in” and that the Minority’s objections were systematically disregarded on the parliamentary floor.
“The Speaker… disregarded and bulldozed their way through, complete disregard for the Minority, complete disregard for the sponsors of the bill,” he alleged.
Bill Deemed Flawed in Content and Intent
Mr. Fordjour reiterated his assessment that the legislation is flawed in both its content and its original intent. He insisted that the final version deviates significantly from the objectives initially presented to Parliament.
Minority to Participate in Upcoming Engagement
Looking ahead, Mr. Fordjour indicated that the Minority intends to actively participate in the meeting convened by the Speaker. They plan to present their position for further deliberation and consideration within this upcoming engagement.
“We will wait for that meeting and respect that engagement, and we will state our position at that meeting, and then the best course of action will be discussed,” he stated.
Future Parliamentary Proceedings
The Speaker’s surprise and the subsequent call for a review meeting signal a potential for further debate and scrutiny of the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill. Observers will be watching to see how these parliamentary discussions unfold and what impact they may have on the bill’s future, particularly in light of the concerns raised by Mr. Fordjour and the Minority.
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