Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill: Ghana risks stiff confrontation with the West- Dr. Jonah

Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) Dr. Kwesi Jonah says Ghana risks of having a stiff confrontation with the Western powers if it pass the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill in its current form into law.

Seven Members of Parliament introduced the Private Member Bill to parliament to produce specific law that criminalises homosexuality to bring closure to the controversy.

This has already received a backlash from lesbianism and gay advocates who argued that the bill will stifle freedom of speech and expression.

But, Dr. Kwesi Jonah says the battle is far from over after passage of the bill into law in its current state because the world superpowers are likely to pull a break on subventions, loans, aids and grants to Ghana coupled with a stiffer confrontation.

“If you are getting aid from the European Union, you are in trouble if you pass a law against LGBTQ+ because your relationship with the EU will end. Our Members of Parliament should look at the bill very very carefully. A confrontation with the West on such a matter is not necessary “.

Speaking in an interview monitored by African Editors on Monday 26 July 2021 in Accra, the IDEG Senior Research Fellow Dr. Jonah warned the “MPs should tread cautiously because Ghana is simply heading towards a confrontation with the West upon passage of the LGBTQ+ Bill into law”.

Dr. Jonah noted that “I’ve no doubt that this bill has the support of the majority of MPs and Ghanaians. But, in my opinion, we should always look at the international situation, where does Ghana position itself”.

“Do we have other means of dealing with this problem rather than pass a legislation that will put us in a bad light in the eyes of the international community? We should always tread cautiously in such matters”.

Source : africaneditors.com