Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has accused the government of weakening key provisions of the controversial anti-LGBTQ legislation and has called for the original version passed by Parliament in 2024 to be assented to without amendments.
Speaking during discussions on the future of the legislation, Abu Jinapor argued that efforts to revise portions of the bill amount to a dilution of the intentions of Parliament and the overwhelming public support that accompanied its passage.
According to the former Lands and Natural Resources Minister, the bill approved by Parliament in 2024 reflected extensive consultations and represented the collective will of the Ghanaian people regarding issues of family values, cultural identity, and social norms.
He maintained that any attempt to alter the substance of the legislation would undermine the work undertaken by lawmakers and the broad consensus that informed the bill’s passage.
“The original bill was debated thoroughly and approved by Parliament after careful consideration. Any effort to weaken its provisions would be contrary to the expectations of many Ghanaians who supported the legislation,” he stated.
Abu Jinapor further urged the Executive to facilitate the assent process for the original version of the bill rather than introducing changes that, in his view, reduce its effectiveness.
The MP argued that Parliament had fulfilled its constitutional responsibility by passing the legislation and that the next step should be to ensure its implementation in the form originally approved by lawmakers.
His remarks come amid ongoing national debate over the future of the anti-LGBTQ bill, which has attracted both strong support and criticism from various groups within Ghana and abroad.
Supporters of the legislation contend that it seeks to preserve Ghanaian cultural and family values, while critics have raised concerns about its potential implications for human rights, freedom of expression, and Ghana’s international obligations.
Abu Jinapor dismissed suggestions that the legislation should be significantly amended, insisting that Parliament’s position on the matter was clear and should be respected.
He also called on fellow lawmakers, religious leaders, traditional authorities, and civil society groups that support the bill to remain vigilant and advocate for the passage of the original text.
The debate over the anti-LGBTQ legislation remains one of the most contentious public policy issues in Ghana, with stakeholders closely monitoring developments as discussions continue over its final fate.
For now, Abu Jinapor says the government must demonstrate its commitment to the bill by ensuring that the version approved by Parliament in 2024 receives assent without what he described as unnecessary modifications.
