Minority Leader in Ghana’s Parliament and Effutu MP, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has rejected a controversial social media post that appeared to show him opposing the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, popularly known as the anti-gay bill.
The post, which went viral on Tuesday, quoted Afenyo-Markin as strongly criticising the legislation. It reportedly stated:
“A law that imprisons people for their sexual orientation or who they choose to love does not protect society. It simply selects a group of human beings and makes their existence a crime. That is a line no Parliament in the civilised world should cross.”
The statement quickly sparked widespread reactions online, with many sharing screenshots amid heated national discussions about the bill.
However, the post was soon deleted. Afenyo-Markin then issued a clarification on his Facebook page, stating:
“Kindly disregard this post. Account was compromised.”
He maintained that he had no hand in the original publication.
Background on the Bill
Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, on May 29 following extensive debate and amendments. The law seeks to criminalise LGBTQ+ related activities in Ghana, though it includes exemptions for legal practitioners, journalists, media organisations, and medical professionals carrying out their legitimate duties.
The bill has divided public opinion. Supporters argue it safeguards Ghanaian cultural values, family structures, and moral standards, while critics maintain it poses a serious threat to human rights and individual freedoms.
Afenyo-Markin’s denial adds a new twist to the ongoing controversy surrounding the legislation.
