Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has prevented the third reading of the anti-LGBTQ bill, indicating that individuals cannot just be jailed for their sexuality in the country's bid to maintain its family values.

Had it not been for his intervention, today would have marked the passage of this controversial legislation.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin clarified that while he supports the principles of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill, he has chosen to block its progression at this time as the custodial sentence is not the right channel to protect proper human sexual rights.

"The essence of this motion is to afford this august house the opportunity to thoroughly consider amendments that are proposed in the bill with the view of substituting community service for incarceration," he said.

According to him, the bill's punitive actions would not aid in rehabilitating the culprits but rather worsen the current situation.

"The issue before us is behavioral, and it is my humble view that in dealing with behavioural matters, incarceration is not the solution. It makes the matter worse."

"To jail a person for his/her sexuality will not be the solution in maintaining our Ghanaian family values and ensuring proper human sexual rights," he added.

Meanwhile, a sponsor of the bill, Sam George, indicated that Mr. Markin's argument does not hold water.