Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill: Sparks controversy, angers gay advocates
It has emerged in Ghana that an Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill to criminalise activities currently before parliament is receiving anger from lesbians and gay advocates who are of the view that some clauses in the bill are roadblocks to freedom of speech and expression.
Among them are Actress Sister Derby who clashes former Broadcast Journalist of Metro TV Ignatius Annor, CICLASS Fellow Dr. Edwin Coleman, Former Executive Director of Amnesty International Ghana Robert Amoafo Akoto and some celebrities who are leading advocacy for homosexuality.
CICLASS Fellow at UJ Dr. Edwin Coleman noted that the “Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill if passed into law, will be stifling freedom of speech and criminalising individual choices”.
But in a sharp reaction, Former Member of Parliament for Adentan Constituency Lawyer Adu Asare expressed shock over the criticism against the bill and insists accepting homosexuality in Ghana will amount to approval of absurdity in character where people will be at liberty to demand the rights to unacceptable feelings, desires and practices.
Lawyer Adu Asare quizzes that “Should we allow people who want to sleep with animals too? Let’s stand strong against this. We can’t accept gayism because it’s from the western world. That’s their own case”.
“Majority of our people are against LGBTQ+. If the Criminal Code is against unnatural carnal knowledge, we can’t accept it”, he said.
Veteran Sports Journalist and a Lecturer at Ghana Law School Lawyer Moses Foh Amoaning together with the Christian community in Ghana have been on the forefront of pushing for a specific law to criminalise activities and advocacy on homosexuality compelling seven Mod to introduce the private member bill.
Speaking in an interview monitored by African Editors on Monday 26 July 2021 in Accra, former General Secretary of Christian Council of Ghana Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong said “LGBTQ+ shouldn’t be part of our national and cultural identity”.
He noted that “I pray that Ghanaians will rally behind this journey to pass a law that criminalises homosexuality devoid of partisanship. We must win this fight not for today but for those who will come after us”.
“Family values must be protected, and so far, President Akufo-Addo and his Vice Dr. Bawumia have not given me any impression to believe that they will in future distance themselves from the fight against homosexuality including the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill currently before parliament because, that for me will be a big disappointment”.
Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill: It’s the most ridiculous- CICLASS Research Fellow
Research Fellow at CICLASS, UJ Dr. Edwin Coleman is insisting that Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill is the most ridiculous, perverse and has little on basis in law because the bill puts roadblocks in the path of freedom of speech and expression.
Speaking in an interview by African editors on Sunday 25 July 2021 in Accra, Dr. Coleman said “There is nothing beautiful about preventing free speech. Foundation for Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill must be sound and not based on emotions. The bill in its current form has no basis in law at all”.
Dr. Edwin Coleman noted “we need to know and understand that our cultural values do not allow hatred for people. The LGBTQ+ does not protect fundamental human rights”.
“The bill is not justified. Claim that same sex is not allowed in the Constitution can be dubious”, he said.
According to Dr. Coleman, the LGBTQ+ bill is seeking to address overly complex situation in an awful manner. What cultural values are we talking about? Because Ghana’s values do not allow hate. We can’t prevent fundamental human rights of people because there is no legal justification”.
“The bill is the most ridiculous. There must be a convincing arguments before the bill is accepted and passed”
But, a Lecturer at UPSA Law School Justice Abdullai says he is in support of any bill that criminalises LGBTQ+. If we allow homosexuality, lesbianism and gayism, the absurdity will continue”.
“Practice of homosexuality has nothing to do with human rights “, he said
Meanwhile, Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Bagbin has issued a strong warnings to critics who have been threatening Members of Parliament who introduced the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill to parliament.
Ningo Prampram MP Samuel George, Alhassan Suhuyini and five other minority lawmakers introduced the private member bill to parliament to address on going issues on homosexuality but are being threatened including opposition against their candidature in the run-up to 2024 parliamentary elections.
Speaking in an interview monitored by African Editors in Accra, Mr. Bagbin said “Stop threatening MPs who introduce the bill, nobody can come and impose LGBTQ+ on us and I’m warning people who come to operate in our country. The Anti -LGBTQ+ Bill will be passed into law”.
Source : africaneditors.com
