Dr. Michael Akagbor, a Senior Programmes Officer at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), has voiced his disappointment over recent comments made by Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, regarding the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.
Bagbin recently reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring the passage of the controversial anti-gay bill, even if it came at a personal cost. The bill, which had been passed by the 8th Parliament, expired after former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo did not assent to it before leaving office.
In an interview with Citi News, Dr. Akagbor criticized Bagbin’s stance, emphasizing that Parliament should focus on addressing more pressing national issues rather than prioritizing a contentious bill.
“Despite the fact that he is the Speaker, he is also entitled to his views and opinions on how he views issues, but it doesn’t translate into law because he is a Speaker of Parliament. So if you had followed the bill from last year, even when the Speaker had promised that it was going to become law before the last tenure of Parliament had ended, we did realise that that did not happen. So, as to how I will react to what he has said, I am very disappointed.
“I thought that this issue would have been pushed aside with time and then we would have been more focused on addressing issues that are of utmost importance to Ghanaians, things that will put food on the table for Ghanaians.”
