Ho West MP and sponsor of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, Emmanuel Bedzrah, says the new version of the bill will be laid before Parliament as soon as it is advertised on the order paper.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Tuesday, he explained that the previous bill passed under the Eighth Parliament no longer holds any legal standing, and the process has to begin anew.
“The 8th Parliament bill that was passed by Parliament is now moot. We don’t have a bill. All we have now is a new bill that has been introduced to the House. We are yet to lay it.
“We’re waiting for the Speaker to give a directive, as he gave on Tuesday. And so now the bill is before the House, which will be laid as soon as it’s been advertised on our order paper,” he said.
He recalled that the earlier version of the bill was unanimously supported by all Members of Parliament before it stalled at the presidency.
“As we all know, that bill was passed last Parliament, the Eighth Parliament. And as you are aware, eight of us sponsored the bill, and we did everything possible, humanly possible, by Members of Parliament to pass it. And you remember, 275 of us supported the bill being passed,” he recounted.
Mr Bedzrah revealed that the bill, after being passed, was transmitted to the President for assent but never reached him due to a legal challenge.
“It got to a point where it had to be assented to by the President. The bill was transmitted to the President, but did not get to the President, and we were told that it was blocked along the line. Somebody had to go to the Supreme Court for interpretation on whether the President should receive it in the first place,” he explained.
He said the delay and the change in administration meant the bill effectively lapsed and had to be reintroduced.
“The then government — that was the last administration — could not assent to it, so it does not form a law. Even though it was passed, it’s like you just died and you are in the middle. You have not gotten to heaven, nor gone to hell. You are just in the middle,” he said.
Using a vivid metaphor, Mr Bedzrah said the bill’s reintroduction represents a second chance to “do the right thing.”
“So God has decided that, okay, come back to the earth to do the right thing. So it’s back to us now. And fortunately, we came together to start a new life for the bill,” he said.
The Ho West MP expressed confidence that the new bill will once again win broad parliamentary support and this time receive presidential assent.
“I can tell you that from what people are saying, the bill will be passed again, and this time around, the President will assent to it,” he declared.
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