By Elsie Appiah-Osei
Accra, May 29, GNA – The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority in Parliament on Friday opposed proposed amendments to Clause 9 of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, popularly referred to as the anti-LGBTQ bill.
The amendment sought to remove sanctions for individuals who provide legal advice or representation to persons identified as LGBT.
The Clause also proposed exemptions for Journalists and media houses reporting on LGBT-related news or current affairs in the normal course of their work, as well as for professionals offering medical, surgical, psychological, or counselling services to such individuals.
Speaking on the Floor of Parliament on Friday, Mr Mahama Ayariga, the Majority Leader, explained that the proposed amendments were intended to narrowly define exemptions in the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, to ensure that professional services and routine activities were not interpreted as promoting LGBT activities.
He said: “Mr. Speaker, the Media raised strong issues because they think that we are violating the right to free expression. Professionals such as lawyers raised strong issues that we are violating their professional freedom and violating the rights of people to legal services.
“So, what the committee is trying to do is to narrowly set out those exceptions where, when you speak, you will not be considered as promoting or supporting LGBT.”
However, Reverend Ntim Fordjour, the NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin South and sponsor of the Bill, together with Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, the NPP MP for Bosome-Freho, argued that the proposed changes suggested the version of the Bill submitted for assent by former President Akufo-Addo was not adequately fit for purpose.
“Mr. Speaker, these are the people sponsoring, supporting, pro- making sponsoring, making these activities rather attractive behind the scenes and even sometimes overtly. And so, if I find it highly problematic, any attempt by this House to push any of these exceptions in, we will resist it. And if the house will use their majority numbers to push it through, I, as a sponsor, will advise myself accordingly,” he said.
Meanwhile, Parliament is set to host the fourth African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family and Sovereignty from Wednesday, June 3 to Saturday, June 6, 2026.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Elsie Appiah-Osei, GNA
Reporter’s email: [email protected]