A member of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, has said the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, which is commonly known as the anti-gay bill, needs revision.
Speaking on Asaase Radio, the NDC MP said the anti-gay bill has several issues that need critical attention.
“Definitely there are a number of issues that need to be flagged; academic freedom, the professors have raised it,†the Mahama Ayariga said.
The Bawku Central lawmaker added: “It is so fundamental that our constitution has gone out of its way to guarantee the set up for academic freedom, and that is one issue that we need to respond to and respond to properly as a committee. People have raised right to healthcare and how a bill like that will go a long way to undermine access to healthcare by people in the gay and lesbian community.â€
The comment of the Member of Parliament comes after a group of 18 notable Ghanaian citizens raised concerns about the bill saying it constitutes an “impermissible invasion of the inviolability and human dignity.â€
Mahama Ayariga has always been a proponent LGBT+ rights in Ghana.
The bill was initiated by eight Members of Parliament (MP). The MPs are Samuel Nartey George, Dela Adjoa Sowah, Emmanuel Bedzrah, Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini, Helen Adjoa Ntoso, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor and Rev. John Ntim Fordjour.