President Akufo-Addo yet to Receive Anti-Gay Bill for Assent -Majority Leader
Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Majority Leader in Parliament has clarified that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly known as the UN anti-gay bill, has not yet reached President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his assent.
The MP for Effuti in the Central Region explained that the drafting department of Parliament is currently compiling the bill. Once the final draft is ready, it will be presented to the sponsors for review and subsequently authenticated by the Clerk to Parliament, initiating the necessary procedural steps.
This clarification comes amidst public interest and discussions surrounding the bill.
Addressing the media in Parliament on Monday, March 4, 2024, Mr Afenyo-Markin emphasized that the bill is still undergoing internal parliamentary processes before reaching the President’s desk for approval.
“There’s some seeming pressure on the presidency regarding the anti-LGBTQ+ parliament passed. Well, the process is that when the bill is passed in Parliament, it must first be compiled by the drafting department in Parliament. As we speak, as the leader of the house, I can say on authority that we’ve not completed the process. The bill is yet to be sent to the president for signing.”
“So the public needs to know this so that a certain impression is not created out there that Parliament has submitted the bill into the presidency and all. Nothing has moved to the presidency.”
“Mr Speaker is yet to receive the authenticated bill, the clerk to the parliament himself has not yet seen it, and the drafting department is still compiling, I have been chasing it myself and they said it will require some time because a lot of changes were done.”
About Author
