Rev Ntim Fordjour Slams “Smuggled” Exemptions in Anti-LGBT Bill, Says Sponsors Not Consulted

Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, Member of Parliament for Assin South and a sponsor of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, has strongly opposed new exemptions inserted into the legislation, describing them as “smuggled in” and a threat to the bill’s core intent.

Speaking on amendments to the bill in Parliament, Rev. Fordjour criticized provisions that seek to exempt certain activities from punishment under the proposed law.

“They have introduced that the promotion, advocacy and the support for LGBT activities which any person who engages in it is or has offended the law and must face the consequence of the law, they are saying that an exception must be given,” Rev. Fordjour said.

The contentious exemptions cover publication of academic, scientific or medical opinion; dissemination of information by government bodies, NGOs, or development partners; provision of medical, surgical, psychological or counseling services; news reporting by journalists; and public health functions including HIV and AIDS prevention, testing, treatment and care.

“These exceptions were never part of the discussions. They have smuggled it in to exempt these groups of people to do acts that infringe on the very offences that we are introducing into this act,” the Assin South MP stated.

Rev. Fordjour argued that existing safeguards already protect professionals acting lawfully. “We know doctors, as a doctor you may be there and a patient may come to you, they may have some cancers arising out of LGBT activities. No law stops you from treating that patient. It is their fundamental human rights,” he said.

He added that the bill already exempts journalists reporting without intent to promote. “If they are reporting without the intent of promoting it you are exempted from it.”

Referencing page 41 of the amendments, Rev. Fordjour noted that sponsors had inserted language stating that “nothing in this act shall prevent or limit the lawful duties or functions of an institution.”

“What we are saying is that if an institution, individuals, professionals are going about their lawful duties which are not promoting LGBT activities, whether they are lawyers, whether they are surgeons, whether they are journalists, whether they are academics… if those activities are promoting lawful duties or functions they already are exempted,” he explained.

“So why would you come in again and introduce new things, smuggle it in which we the sponsors have not agreed to, not discussed with the sponsors,” he questioned.