Private Legal Practitioner and activist Osagyefo Oliver Barker-Vormawor has called on President John Dramani Mahama to withhold assent to the recently passed Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, citing concerns over the circumstances surrounding its approval in Parliament.
His comments come in the wake of questions over whether the House had the required quorum when it passed the legislation on Friday, May 30.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, May 31, Barker-Vormawor claimed the bill was approved without the minimum number of lawmakers required to take such a decision and hinted at a possible legal challenge.
“Turns out the Anti-LGBTQ bill was passed without a quorum. Only 34 MPs? Over to the President. Cease and desist letter incoming,” he wrote.
Parliament passed the bill with a number of amendments, including provisions that exempt certain individuals and institutions from sanctions under the law. The legislation seeks to criminalise LGBTQ+ activities and related advocacy.
Among the changes introduced are exemptions for lawyers providing legal representation to persons identified as LGBTQ+, journalists and media organisations reporting on LGBTQ-related matters, as well as medical professionals offering healthcare, counselling and psychological services.
The amendments, however, faced strong opposition from the Minority Caucus, which argued that the revisions suggest the original version of the bill submitted for presidential assent under the previous administration was flawed and not fit for purpose.
