Accra: A former First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon Joseph Osei Owusu, has emphasized that Ghana must remain committed to its cultural values and national identity, even if the controversial LGBTQ+ Bill attracts international consequences after becoming law. Speaking on the legislative process surrounding the bill, the lawmaker explained that the President must first determine whether the legislation is consistent with the Constitution before granting assent.
According to Ghana Web, Hon. Osei Owusu elaborated that if the President identifies constitutional concerns, he may return the bill to Parliament with comments for further amendments. "If otherwise, he writes his comments to Parliament for amendment, and if Parliament thinks otherwise, they reply that they have done all the necessary amendments and the President should consider signing it," he explained.
Hon. Osei Owusu noted that there is a strong possibility the bill could eventually receive presidential assent. "Yes, I see him passing the law because if Parliament passes it, then he is supposed to sign it," he stated. He further explained that Parliament has constitutional powers to override a presidential refusal and proceed with the legislation. "Parliament can override him and put it into an Act for it to become a law," he added.
The Bekwai MP also suggested that amendments made to the bill have increased its chances of being signed. "Now that they have watered it down, there is a high probability that he will sign," he said. Addressing concerns about possible international reactions, the lawmaker acknowledged that many of Ghana's development partners and trading allies have accepted LGBTQ+ rights and may expect Ghana to do the same. "The economies and countries we get help from have accepted this law, so they expect us to accept it so we can continue trading with them," he noted.
However, he insisted that Ghana must prioritize its values and sovereignty over external pressure. "If the LGBTQ+ Bill eventually becomes law through presidential assent, there may be consequences, but we must uphold our values and remain true to our identity," he stressed. He added that Ghana should be prepared to pursue its own development path if international support is affected. "If they decide not to help again, then we stand on our grounds to build our own country," he stated.