The Centre for Democratic Movement (CDM) has raised concerns over recent amendments to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, questioning what it describes as significant shifts in the content and public presentation of the legislation.
In a statement, the group said it had reviewed the latest version of the Bill currently before Parliament and found substantial changes to key provisions that were originally presented to the Ghanaian public as final and ready for presidential assent.
The organisation is asking a central question: what changed?
According to CDM, the public was previously made to believe that the Bill had completed its parliamentary process and only required the President’s signature to become law. This perception, the group noted, drove strong public advocacy calling for immediate assent.
However, CDM argued that recent legislative developments show the Bill has undergone extensive revisions, including changes to definitions, offences, exemptions, institutional safeguards, and interpretative clauses.
One of the most significant concerns raised relates to Section 3 of the original Bill, which criminalised acts seen as subverting defined family values.
The provision reportedly prohibited any form of encouragement, facilitation, or promotion of such acts and imposed penalties, including fines and imprisonment.
CDM noted that this entire offence has been removed in the amended version without any direct replacement, describing it as a major departure from the original intent and a key enforcement mechanism of the Bill.
The organisation argued that this development raises questions about consistency in the legislative process and whether the public was fully informed about the Bill’s actual status during earlier stages of advocacy and debate.
CDM further stated that the shift from calls for immediate presidential assent to a process involving major amendments suggests the Bill may not have been in its final form as previously communicated.
The group, therefore, called on the Government of Ghana, Parliament, and all stakeholders involved in promoting the Bill to provide a clear explanation for the changes.
It also requested clarification on whether the amendments were anticipated during earlier public discussions and whether citizens were given a complete and accurate picture of the legislative process.
Beyond clarification, CDM urged, where appropriate, an official apology to the public and stakeholders if it is established that there was any confusion or misrepresentation regarding the status of the Bill.
The Centre emphasised that democratic governance depends on transparency, accuracy, and trust, warning that public confidence is weakened when legislative processes appear inconsistent or unclear.
CDM concluded by reaffirming its commitment to accountability and responsible governance, stating that the truth must remain central to all national legislative processes.
