Anti-gay bill: Afenyo-Markin withdraws proposed amendments

Deputy Majority Leader of the Parliament of Ghana, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has chosen to retract his proposed changes to the bill focused on upholding proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values.

This decision follows the rejection by the House of two of his recommendations, which sought to substitute imprisonment with community service for those engaging in LGBT practices.

Furthermore, Afenyo-Markin has also abandoned his new suggestion, which called for mandatory counseling on human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values as part of the post-conviction punishment.

The contentious nature of the anti-gay bill has generated significant debate since its initial introduction in Parliament. Various human rights organizations have expressed concerns that the bill would infringe upon the rights of the LGBT community in Ghana.

On February 8, Parliament passed a motion authorizing a jail term of three to five years for individuals who deliberately endorse or sponsor LGBTQ+ activities. Offenders caught in the act could face imprisonment ranging from six months to three years.

While discussing potential amendments to the bill that promotes proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values, Afenyo-Markin argued against punitive measures, highlighting that such penalties would not aid in the reform of those convicted. He underscored his worries about the conditions of the country’s prisons and their limited capacity to support the rehabilitation of offenders.

In one of his proposals, the Effutu lawmaker suggested exchanging a minimum two-month imprisonment term with a minimum one-month community service sentence for individuals found guilty of engaging in LGBTQ+ activities.