Sam George insists anti-LGBTQI bill will reach Mahama’s desk “expeditiously

The Member of Parliament for Sam Nartey George has reiterated that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill will be processed “expeditiously” by Parliament and subsequently transmitted to President John Dramani Mahama for assent, insisting that the legislative process remains active and has not stalled despite recent political developments.

Mr. George, the principal sponsor of the bill, made the remarks during a stakeholder engagement organised by Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee. The committee has begun a detailed clause-by-clause consideration of the proposed legislation following its referral by the Speaker of Parliament.

He firmly rejected suggestions that his recent appointment to a ministerial position had slowed or derailed the progress of the bill.

“There is no bill before President Mahama today,” he stated, while also noting that concerns raised by religious institutions regarding delays were understandable given the sensitivity and national significance of the proposed law.

“The calls from very respectable groups like the Catholic Bishops Conference are very well placed because of how sensitive and important this is,” he added.

The bill—commonly referred to as the anti-LGBTQI bill—seeks to impose criminal sanctions on same-sex relations as well as related advocacy and promotional activities. It remains one of the most divisive legislative proposals in recent years in Ghana, drawing strong backing from religious bodies while facing sustained opposition from civil society groups and human rights organisations.

Mr. George dismissed claims that sponsors of the bill had abandoned it following changes in government roles, insisting that their commitment to the legislative process remains unchanged.

“I have heard people who have said Sam George and his colleague sponsors have abandoned — we’ve run away because I’ve been appointed minister,” he said. “The process is the process.”

He also referenced comments by co-sponsor John Ntim Fordjour, who has publicly rejected claims that the bill’s sponsors have withdrawn support, affirming that it remains actively before Parliament.

According to Mr. George, Parliament has already completed extensive review of the bill’s clauses and is now focused on advancing it without major alterations.

“As for the clauses, we have gone through them, we’ve masticated them, and we will go through them expeditiously. The body of the law remains the same,” he said.

He further highlighted appeals from major religious leadership, including the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Ghana and the office of the National Chief Imam, urging Parliament to take their positions into account during deliberations.

“I believe that Parliament has a responsibility to grant the Chief Imam his wish and grant the Catholic Bishops their wish,” he noted.

Mr. George also expressed confidence that President Mahama would assent to the bill once it is passed, although he did not disclose the basis of the assurances he referenced.

The bill was previously passed by an earlier Parliament but was not assented to by the then-President, resulting in its lapse and subsequent reintroduction for consideration in the current legislative cycle.