Parliament will not declare Asante Akyem North seat vacant – Agalga

Parliament will reverse the passage of the anti-LGBTQ bill to rectify errors in its penalty provisions, Majority Leader James Agalga announced. Speaking on Joy News' PM Express, he highlighted that mistakes in calculating penalty units could cause significant issues when courts apply the proposed law. "For instance, how to compute penalty units was completely done in error, in some cases," he stated.

The House will therefore revisit the bill at the third-reading stage, enabling lawmakers to reopen consideration and make necessary corrections before sending it to the President. "The penal provisions are not aligned. They are not aligned properly," Mr Agalga emphasized. He explained that the penalties must align with existing legislation, and the corrections would not substantially alter the bill's content.

The decision to reverse the bill's passage stems from months of controversy surrounding its May 29th approval. Speaker Alban Bagbin subsequently instructed Parliament to reevaluate the process, raising concerns about procedural compliance and whether the bipartisan support recorded at committee level mirrored the floor's support.

Then Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga defended the passage, asserting that Parliament had adhered to its rules. Critics within Parliament questioned the proposed exemptions for journalists, lawyers, and health professionals, arguing that the changes weakened the bill. Defenders claimed the exemptions protected legitimate professional duties.

Mr Agalga clarified that the latest intervention focused on the practical application of penalties, warning that the bill in its current form would face significant implementation challenges. He confirmed that Parliament aimed to complete the corrections during the ongoing meeting. When asked if the bill would reach the President this month, Agalga affirmed: "Absolutely."

He dismissed speculation that the delay signaled a shift in the President's stance, stating, "Contrary to all the wild speculations that the President has shifted goalposts and all that. No, he hasn't." Mr Agalga highlighted that Parliament identified the defects and bore the responsibility for rectifying them before transmitting the bill.