Parliament is taking “urgent actions” to “pass a law to eventually nip the activities” of LGBTQI+ groups “in the bud”, Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has revealed.

In a reply to a letter from a political activist who had petitioned the legislature to proscribe LGBTQI+ activities and advocacy in Ghana, Mr Bagbin wrote: “I appreciate very much your concerns about activities of the LGBTQI+ groups in the country”.

“It is, indeed, a phenomenon that should not be encouraged or accepted by our society due to its eventual negative impact on society.”

He disclosed in the letter dated 15 June 2021 that “stakeholder consultations are also ongoing and the results will feed into a bill that will eventually be passed into law by Parliament”.

A few months ago, President Nana Akufo-Addo said he will never legalise same-sex marriage.

“For same-sex marriage to be legalised in Ghana, it will not happen in my time as President”, the Ghanaian leader said at the St. Michael and All Angels Cathedral in Asante Mampong on Saturday, 27 February 2021, during the installation of the Second Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Ghana.

“I have said this before and let me, in conclusion, stress again that it will not be under the Presidency of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that same-sex marriage will be legalised in Ghana. It will never happen in my time as President”, he emphasised to applause from the congregation.

The President made a similar declaration in 2018 after he had said in an Aljazeera interview that the recognition of the LGBTQI+ community in Ghana was “bound to happen”, for which he was roundly criticised.

The debate sprung up again after the LGBTQI+ community opened an office space at Ashongman in Accra.

It was later closed down by the National Security Secretariat following widespread condemnation by the general public, led by the clergy and CSOs.