GPCC says current anti-LGBTQ+ bill falls short
The debate over Ghana’s Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill has taken a new turn, with the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) urging lawmakers to revisit the legislation and restore provisions contained in an earlier version of the bill.
Rather than celebrating the bill’s passage, the influential Christian body says significant gaps remain and has called for amendments that would make the legislation more effective in protecting what it describes as Ghana’s moral, cultural and family values.
In a statement issued to Parliament and other stakeholders, the Council argued that the current text does not provide the level of protection it expected and therefore falls short of addressing concerns that prompted public calls for the legislation.
The GPCC believes the version approved by the previous Parliament offered a stronger framework and should form the basis of any final legislation.
“Its prior endorsement for presidential assent is a testament to its legislative merit, and GPCC strongly recommends that it be reinstated and passed without further delay,” the statement said.
Signed by its president, Dr Eric Nyamekye, the statement positions the Council among groups seeking further legislative action despite recent parliamentary approval of the bill.
The Council maintained that preserving family values and protecting Ghana’s cultural identity require a more comprehensive legal response, insisting that the current framework does not adequately meet those objectives.
At the same time, it pledged continued support for state institutions handling the matter, including Parliament and the Executive, while stressing that national decisions should reflect Ghana’s values and priorities.
The intervention by the GPCC is expected to add momentum to ongoing discussions over the future direction of the bill, particularly as stakeholders continue to debate whether the legislation should remain in its current form or undergo further revisions before implementation.
Source: myjoyonline.com
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