NDC dragging its feet on Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill – Kansake
Navrongo Central NPP Communications Director says government should expedite the assent process and fulfil its campaign promise on the legislation.
The Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Navrongo Central Constituency, Daniel Kansake, has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of failing to demonstrate sufficient commitment to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
According to him, the governing party has departed from the position it championed while in opposition and is now relying on procedural processes that could delay the bill’s eventual passage into law.
Kansake made the remarks on Wednesday, June 3, during a discussion on the Big Mike Breakfast Show, which focused on the aftermath of Parliament’s passage of the bill on May 29 and subsequent comments by President John Dramani Mahama and Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin regarding procedural concerns surrounding the legislation.
He argued that if the NDC truly considered the bill a priority, it should have sponsored it as a government bill rather than allowing it to proceed as a private member’s bill.
According to Kansake, the decision to pursue the legislation through a private member’s initiative has created legal and procedural challenges that could delay its assent.
“The same way the government moved swiftly to reverse policies such as the E-Levy and the betting tax, it could have introduced the LGBTQ+ bill as a government bill if it considered it a priority,” he stated.
Kansake further questioned President Mahama’s indication that the bill would undergo review by legal advisers and the Attorney General before any decision on assent is taken.
“The fact that the President says his legal team must review the bill suggests there are concerns about the process and the content of the legislation,” he said.
He also expressed concern over reports suggesting that Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin was not fully aware of the timing of the bill’s passage, describing the development as an indication of possible differences within the governing party regarding the legislation.
Kansake maintained that the NDC must honour its campaign commitments on the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill and ensure that the legislation is assented to without what he described as unnecessary delays.
Mike 105.3FM I Navrongo | Elizabeth Apusaama
