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The debate on an anti-LGBTQ+ Bill continues to rage as proponents and opponents continue heated exchanges to buttress their respective positions.

The bill is currently before Parliament and the role of the current Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, in getting it okayed to be laid before the house was outlined by Ningo Prampram MP, Sam Nartey George, who is the lead promoter of the bill.

According to him, the Speaker who has all along been cooperative of the bill allowed for the bill to go through first reading despite reservations about the fact that it was potentially going to impose a cost on the taxpayer.

The Speaker’s position has in the same vein been criticized by two members of the Majority side in Parliament. The Majority leader wants the Speaker to maintain his role and not speak like a lawmaker. Another lawmaker insists that the Speaker erred by allowing the bill to be laid in the first place.

In the case of Bagbin’s predecessor, Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye, he is on record as vehemently opposing gay rights even though under his tenure the issue did not reach the stage of pushing for legislation to strictly regulate LGBTQ+ activities.

This article looks at the views expressed by the two former lawmakers

Speaker Alban Bagbin in July this year publicly declared his support for the bill, Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021, when he met with a group of Christian clerics in Parliament.

The Speaker also took the opportunity to caution members of the diplomatic community who at the time had openly expressed support for the LGBTQ+ community and reportedly threatened some lawmakers with especially travel sanctions.

“We will not threaten anybody but we shall also not be threatened. Those threatening Members of Parliament who are leading this bill, please be warned.

“We cannot be threatened in our homes, this must be stated loud and clear to those who have come to do business in Ghana. Those who represent their countries and think that they are right, we also represent our country,” he added.