Prof. Smart Sarpong, a Senior Researcher at the Kumasi Technical University, says the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, should not be compelled to assent to the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
Parliament, on Wednesday, February 27, passed the anti-LGBTQ+ bill by a unanimous decision to uphold Ghana's proper human sexual rights and family values.
The bill criminalizes the promotion, advocacy and every act of homosexuality.
Culprits will face a jail term of 6 months to 5 years.
The President has come under pressure to sign the bill, however the international community has condemned the bill describing it as "deeply harmful" and an infringement on human rights.
The US ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Evelyn Palmer, and High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk have both asked the President to cancel the bill.
Nonetheless, many Ghanaians who support the bill have asked the President not to hesitate in appending his signature to the bill to make it a law.
Renowned lawyer and Executive Secretary for the National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values, Moses Foh-Amoaning, in an interview on 3FM, warned the President saying if he refuses to sign the bill, there will severe consequences for him and his New Patriotic Party.
“If he refuses to sign, it would be very easy the NDC will just package the NPP as ‘Trumu, Trumu’ party,” he said.
Discussing the bill during Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", Prof. Smart Sarpong asked those calling for quick presidential assent to exercise restraint and allow the President to peruse the bill before he agrees to it.
"We can't say the President should sign it immediately. What is he signing? Give him the room to peruse it. Even if he can't make any changes, he must know what he is signing", he remarked.
He, however, implored the President to do the needful after reading the bill saying "it is protecting the majority. This is not a law that is going to hunt the minority but rather to protect the majority . . . at least, about 99 percent of Ghanaians are for this bill".
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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Hmmmmm, the president whiles addressing a Christian gathering is on record to have said that LGBTQ+ activities will not be legalized under his presidency. The people clapped for him. Today if there is an anti gay bill in front of him to sign into law , what will be his reasons for delaying in signing the bill into law.? Fact is that almost if not all cultures in Ghana frowns on same sex marriage . Nobody , however powerful you are ,cannot force your beliefs on the Ghanaian people. Those western countries issuing threats should equally go to Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and force gay rights on them. They have ambassadors in these countries, they should tell these countries to accept same sex marriage as a human right issue. The U. S. Ambassador to Ghana should tell us how she came into the world. Whether it was a man and women who brought her into the world or it was man and man or woman and woman. She should tell us whether she came into the world through the front passage of her mother or she came through her back. Even animals don't practice same sex. Africans were practicing traditional region until the Europeans brought Christianity to Africa, we accepted it knowing that was the way of God . Where in the bible does God tells us to practice same sex marriage ? God doesn't know human rights, they know. We don't want that.
What is the halfbaked politician talking about?? A very narrow minded politician who has not placed himself within the global activities. Ghanas fundemental problems has nothing to do with LGBTQ. Poverty has burdend Ghanaians to the extent that even clean drinken water is not avaialiable for Ghanaians, manny of the rural and city communities have no ***barred word*** clean toilet facilities. So what is that Sam Gorde talking about as a politician? You waisted much of your time in parliament talking about LGBTQ Its a sign of irresponsible politicians who have nothing to offer for the social and economic development of Ghanaians. You dont understand what you are talking about LGBTQ.