Haruna Iddrisu, the Tamale South Member of Parliament, has announced that he plans to submit recommendations regarding the controversial LGBTQ Bill to President John Dramani Mahama.
While Iddrisu did not disclose the specifics of his proposed suggestions, he emphasized that his recommendations would focus on securing national consensus and ensuring that the bill aligns with Ghana’s constitution and laws.
Speaking ahead of the National Muslim Prayer and Thanksgiving at the national mosque on January 10, 2025, Iddrisu stated: “I have some thoughts on the LGBTQ issue, but I am yet to share them with the president. My intention is to help him re-engage with the bill, create broad national support, and ensure it is in line with the constitution.”
He stressed that while the issue is a social matter for the country, it should not be reduced to a religious one, underscoring the need for a collective approach to address the situation.
The LGBTQ Bill, also known as the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, aims to criminalize LGBTQ advocacy and related activities. If passed, it would impose penalties on individuals promoting, funding, or indirectly supporting LGBTQ-related actions.
Supporters argue the bill is necessary to protect Ghana’s traditional family values from foreign influences, while critics, including human rights organizations, condemn it as a violation of fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and equality under the law.
The bill has faced legal challenges, with broadcast journalist Richard Dela Sky and Dr. Amanda Odoi filing petitions to the Supreme Court. They argued that the bill did not follow constitutional procedures during its legislative process, but the Court dismissed the petitions, ruling that the bill is not yet law and thus cannot be reviewed for constitutionality at this stage.
