Member of Parliament for Akyem Oda and former Deputy Minister of Health, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has criticised the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) over changes made to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill before its passage by Parliament.
The law, popularly referred to as the LGBTQ Bill, was recently approved by Parliament following debates and the adoption of amendments to some provisions.
While supporters of the amendments argue that they provide necessary legal safeguards, critics contend that the changes have weakened the effectiveness of the legislation.
Reacting to the passage of the bill, Mr. Acquah accused the NDC of abandoning positions it strongly advocated while in opposition and questioned the rationale behind the exemptions introduced into the final version of the legislation.
In a Facebook post, the Akyem Oda legislator employed an Akan proverb to illustrate his concerns, suggesting that key provisions that previously gave the bill its strength had been removed.
“The Akans have a proverb that says: if you cut the head of a snake, the remaining part of the crawling creature can only be described as a mere twain,” he wrote.
According to him, the exemptions negotiated by the NDC have significantly diluted the impact of the legislation, particularly regarding restrictions on LGBTQ-related advocacy and services.
Mr. Acquah argued that the earlier version of the bill contained stricter provisions aimed at deterring both advocacy and activities associated with LGBTQ practices.
He questioned how effective the law would be if some of those provisions were no longer applicable.
“If NDC was able to negotiate the exemption of some aspects of the old bill that made it very serious for anybody to engage in LGBT, either in advocacy or any form of service, how does the bill bite?” he asked.
The former deputy health minister further raised concerns about the practical enforcement of the law, suggesting that proving offences linked to private conduct would be difficult.
“How do you incriminate an act that is done in secrecy or in their rooms?” he questioned.
Mr. Acquah maintained his post with an expression of disappointment, writing: “Hmmm asem oooo. Let me go back into my mourning mood.”
His comments add to the growing political debate surrounding the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, with lawmakers from both the Majority and Minority sides offering differing interpretations of the amendments and their implications.
The legislation remains one of the most contentious issues in country’s political landscape, attracting strong views from political parties, religious groups, civil society organisations, and human rights advocates.
While supporters argue that the law reflects Ghanaian cultural and family values, opponents maintain that certain provisions could raise constitutional and human rights concerns.
As public discussion continues, the debate over whether the amendments have strengthened or weakened the bill is expected to remain a major point of political contention.
By 1960news.com
