Private legal practitioner and activist Osagyefo Oliver Barker‑Vormawor has called on President John Dramani Mahama to delay assenting to the recently passed Anti‑LGBTQ+ Bill, raising serious concerns about the circumstances under which Parliament approved the legislation.
His comments follow growing questions about whether the House met the constitutional quorum requirement when it passed the bill on Friday, May 30.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, May 31, Barker‑Vormawor alleged that the bill was approved with only 34 MPs present, far below the minimum number required for such a decision. He hinted at a possible legal challenge, writing:
“Turns out the Anti‑LGBTQ bill was passed without a quorum. Only 34 MPs? Over to the President. Cease and desist letter incoming.”
Parliament passed the bill with several amendments, including exemptions for certain professionals and institutions. Under the revised provisions, lawyers, journalists, media organisations, and medical professionals providing lawful services to LGBTQ+ persons are shielded from prosecution.
These amendments, however, drew strong opposition from the Minority Caucus, which argued that the changes imply that the original version of the bill—submitted for presidential assent under the previous administration—was flawed and required correction.
The bill seeks to criminalise LGBTQ+ activities and related advocacy, while defining Ghana’s position on human sexual rights and family values.
—CitiNewsRoom
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