Member of Parliament for Efutu and Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin has blocked the third reading of the Anti-LGBTQ bill.
But for his intervention, the controversial bill would have been passed.
He contended that although he is not against the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill, he is opposed to the provision that would lead to the imprisonment of individuals accused of engaging in or promoting LGBTQ activities.
“The essence of this motion is to afford this House the opportunity to thoroughly consider amendments that are proposed in the bill with the view of substituting community service for incarceration,” Afenyo-Markin explained.
He noted that the punitive nature of the bill will not facilitate rehabilitation of the culprits.
“The issue before us is behavioral, and it is my humble view that in dealing with behavioural matters, incarceration is not the solution. It makes the matter worse” the Efutu MP pointed out.
Sam George expresses hope that antigay bill will be passed by end of March
“To jail a person for his/her sexuality will not be the solution in maintaining our Ghanaian family values and ensuring proper human sexual rights,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the MP for Ningo-Prampram, a co-sponsor of the bill, Sam Nartey George, has described Afenyo-Markin’s contention as baseless.
