The Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, often referred to as the Anti-LGBTQ Bill, is at the center of a heightened political and moral debate in Ghana, with its sponsors and advocates pushing for its immediate passage and presidential assent. Dr. Tiah Abdul-Kabiru Mahama, the Walewale MP and a key sponsor, has asserted that there should be no impediment to the bill's successful passage. He stated that if the leadership of Parliament prioritizes the legislation, it could be passed within 48 hours, drawing parallels to instances where important bills have been fast-tracked under a certificate of urgency. Dr. Mahama underscored that the bill has already completed the necessary preparatory stages, including gazetting, and lacks any legal or procedural barriers.

Adding to the intensity of the debate, Ho West MP Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, another sponsor of the bill, has made a solemn pledge to not seek re-election to Parliament if the bill is not passed and assented to. Mr. Bedzrah emphasized that his unwavering stance is rooted in deeply held principles and moral convictions, rather than political considerations. He views the defense of this bill, which seeks to criminalize LGBTQ activities and promote Ghanaian family values, as central to his entire parliamentary career and personal ethos. “If it’s not assented to, I will not come back to Parliament again,” he declared, stressing his commitment to the forward movement and advancement of the country based on these principles.

Mr. Bedzrah has also strongly refuted claims made by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin. Afenyo-Markin had suggested a high-level consensus between the NDC and NPP in 2024 that the bill was “needless” and that he had engaged high-ranking NDC figures to amend it when he served as Majority Leader in the previous Parliament. Mr. Bedzrah unequivocally dismissed these assertions as “untruthful,” insisting that neither Afenyo-Markin nor anyone from his office ever reached out to the bill’s sponsors, including himself, to discuss amendments or halt the bill’s progress. He highlighted that the sponsors, an eight-member group including Ntim Fordjour, operated collectively, and no backroom negotiations regarding amendments were ever brought to their attention. Mr. Bedzrah expressed surprise at Afenyo-Markin’s current public advocacy for the bill, labeling it a “double tongue” given his earlier alleged positions.

In a related development, Moses Foh-Amoaning, the lead advocate of the National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values, has proposed a strategic solution to overcome the delays: reintroducing the bill as a public bill. He explained that many of the existing legal and procedural challenges, including significant cost implications, stem from its current status as a private member’s bill. Foh-Amoaning argued that if the government were to take ownership and introduce it as a public bill, these concerns would largely be resolved. This approach, he noted, aligns with President Akufo-Addo’s earlier viewpoint on the matter. Foh-Amoaning also clarified that the bill, which he states was carefully conceived, is not merely about criminalization but also makes provisions for care, treatment, and support for individuals, allowing for flexible sentencing. He revealed ongoing discussions with the Attorney General about the possibility of the private members withdrawing their bill to allow for its reintroduction as a public bill, a move he believes would resolve many outstanding issues.