
The Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Ghana's Parliament will start public hearings on the anti-LGBTQ+ bill. These hearings aim to gather input from various stakeholders, including Civil Society Organizations, legal experts, religious bodies, and the public. The bill, which has sparked national debate, addresses LGBTQ+ activities and advocacy in Ghana, but has drawn criticism from human rights groups and the international community. Parliamentary officials state the public engagement process is for transparency and inclusivity, ensuring diverse perspectives are considered before a final decision. The bill proposes a three-year jail term for individuals identifying as gay and five to ten years for promoters and advocates. Although Parliament passed the legislation two years ago, former President Nana Akufo-Addo did not sign it into law before leaving office in January, citing legal challenges. The bill has been widely condemned by local and international human rights groups.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.

Lawrencia Dziwornu, the Member of Parliament for Akuapem South, has expressed concern over the growing influence of social media on African youth, labeling it a “time bomb.” Speaking at the 4th African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family, Sovereignty and Values in Accra, Dziwornu highlighted findings that indicate young people spend an average of seven hours daily on digital platforms. She warned that this increasing reliance on social media and digital technologies poses risks to African values, culture, and identity. The MP also noted the impact of artificial intelligence, citing statistics that show approximately 92 percent of online content consumed by African youth is in English, with African languages accounting for only about two percent. Dziwornu argued that Africa, with its population of about 1.5 billion, possesses significant bargaining power to influence global technology companies, similar to the European Union’s success in compelling Apple to adopt a common charging standard. She urged African nations to collaborate on digital challenges and called on African parliaments to lead in shaping policies to protect children and young people. The conference gathered lawmakers and stakeholders from across Africa to discuss family values, cultural identity, digital sovereignty, and the future of the continent’s youth.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Shamima Muslim has refuted claims that President John Dramani Mahama personally orders the arrest of individuals, including TikTok users. Speaking on Starr FM, Muslim emphasized that the President is primarily focused on governance and national development. She stated that Ghana’s security and law enforcement agencies operate independently within established legal frameworks. Muslim stressed that linking every arrest to the President is misplaced and undermines public confidence in state institutions. She added that President Mahama is currently concentrating on implementing government policies, addressing economic challenges, and advancing the administration’s development agenda, while the government remains committed to upholding the rule of law.
Must ReadGhana's Ministry of Health has intensified surveillance and preparedness measures at its borders to prevent the potential importation of Ebola, confirming no cases have been recorded in the country. Deputy Minister for Health, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, is leading field assessments at key entry points like the Aflao and Elubo borders. This preventive strategy follows Ebola outbreaks in other parts of Africa, specifically the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Dr Ayensu-Danquah emphasized that Ebola preparedness is a continental concern, with collaboration among major health institutions including the World Health Organization Africa Region and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. International partners are sharing information, equipment, and health commodities to bolster Africa's collective response capacity. The Deputy Minister engaged frontline health workers and security agencies at the Aflao Border to evaluate screening, surveillance, and isolation protocols.