Majority Rushed Anti-LGBTQI Bill Passage — Manhyia South MP
Manhyia South MP says procedural questions, quorum concerns, and political tensions are shaping debate on the controversial legislation.
- MP claims Majority rushed the passage of the Anti-LGBTQI Bill in Parliament
- He cites procedural tensions and alleged quorum concerns during approval
- Bill remains valid but awaits presidential assent and possible legal scrutiny
Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Hon. Lawyer Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, has claimed that the Majority in Parliament rushed the passage of the Anti-LGBTQI Bill amid internal disagreements and procedural tensions.
Speaking in an interview with Kwame Tanko on the Ghana Se Sen Morning Show on Lawson TV/radio, the MP explained that although the bill has been passed by Parliament, it is still not the final step in the legislative process as it awaits presidential assent.
He noted that even after passage, Members of Parliament still have constitutional room to bring motions before the President takes a final decision on the bill.
According to him, while the bill has gone through the necessary parliamentary stages, there are still unresolved concerns surrounding its passage, describing them as “skirmishes” that must be addressed.
The MP alleged that although the Minority and Majority had earlier agreed to consider about ten bills, disagreements emerged when suspicions were raised that amendments were being introduced into the Anti-LGBTQI Bill, leading to tensions and what he described as a rushed approval process.
He suggested that political dynamics within Parliament contributed to the controversy surrounding the bill’s passage.
Reacting to comments made by President John Dramani Mahama at Chatham House in the United Kingdom, Nana Baffour Awuah acknowledged concerns about whether Parliament met the required quorum when the bill was passed.
President Mahama had indicated that issues such as quorum requirements and procedural lapses must be reviewed before any decision is taken on assent, adding that the bill is still far from becoming law.
The MP admitted that, in line with constitutional provisions, Parliament must meet the correct quorum for decision-making, especially in the passage of legislation.
However, he stressed that until a competent court rules otherwise, the bill remains validly passed and cannot be dismissed as lacking legal backing.
He further raised questions about why a similar version of the bill was not assented to under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, but has now resurfaced in a revised form under the administration of President Mahama, describing it as part of the broader confusion surrounding the legislation.
