Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah has called on religious and traditional leaders to closely examine amendments made to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025, arguing that the changes could weaken provisions aimed at prohibiting the promotion and advocacy of LGBTQ+ activities.

In a statement shared on social media, Assafuah, a member of the opposition New Patriotic Party, urged faith leaders who supported the legislation to assess whether the revised bill remains aligned with its original objectives before it is presented for presidential assent.

“This is not the time for silence,” Assafuah said, calling on religious organisations to publicly scrutinise the amendments and determine whether the legislation still reflects the intent of Parliament when it was first passed.

The legislator specifically raised concerns about changes to Clause 9 of the bill, which he said originally contained strict provisions criminalising the promotion, support, advocacy and facilitation of acts prohibited under the legislation.

According to Assafuah, the original version prescribed prison terms ranging from five to ten years for individuals found guilty of promoting or supporting activities outlawed by the bill. It also prohibited the production and dissemination of materials intended to influence public opinion in favour of such activities.

He argued that amendments introduced by the parliamentary majority have created exemptions under Clause 9(2), which he believes fundamentally alter the bill’s enforcement framework.

“The Ghanaian people must not be deceived,” he said. “The fundamental question remains unanswered: Has Clause 9 been strengthened, or have loopholes been smuggled into the very provision Parliament designed to prohibit propaganda, promotion and advocacy for prohibited acts?”

Assafuah questioned why the exemptions were not included in the original legislation and challenged supporters of the amendments to explain how the revised provisions would strengthen the bill.

He maintained that the issue transcends partisan politics and concerns the integrity of the legislative process, arguing that the effectiveness of the bill depends largely on restrictions against advocacy, promotion and financing of activities it seeks to prohibit.

The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill has been one of Ghana’s most debated pieces of legislation, attracting support from many religious groups while drawing criticism from international rights organisations and some foreign governments over concerns about its implications for human rights and freedom of expression.

The amended bill is expected to undergo further constitutional and legal processes before any decision on presidential assent.