An anti-LGBT Bill that will criminalize homosexuality in Ghana has been gazetted and will be laid for first reading on 2nd August 2021.
Samuel Nartey George popularly known as Sam George, who is one of the sponsors of the bill, and is a lawmaker for Ningo Prampram said on Friday July 30 that “The Bill has duly been gazetted and sent to the Business Committee of the House. “It is great to see the Bill has been programmed to be laid for first reading on Monday, 2nd August. Our eyes remain fixed on the prize.”
Ever since the Bill was proposed, Sam George has been receiving criticisms and jabs from some quarters for sponsoring the anti-LGBT+ agenda on Twitter. One of those critics was Ghanaian musician Sister Derby who is a known advocate of LGBT+ rights in Ghana who described Sam George as “obsessed with people’s sexual orientation” and tagged him as a pervert and backward thinker.
He responded to all the criticisms saying, he is opened to intellectual debate on the anti-LGBT+ Bill he and some of his colleague lawmakers are sponsoring.
Speaking to some sources on Friday July 23, he said emotional outbursts have no place in legislation. “We are opened to intellectual criticisms or criticisms and suggestions grounded in law. Emotional outburst emotional comments have no place in legislation. If any body has intellectual suggestions or addition we are willing to debate the issue.”
But the President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice, Mr Edward Amoako Asante endorsed the move by Ghana to criminalize homosexuality in the country.
He said the human rights argument being made in favor of homosexuality should be dismissed because the customs and traditions of the people which frown on such acts supersede that human right claim.
The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Mr Sidie Mohammed Tunis, for his part asked Ghana to be cautious in attempts to criminalize homosexuality in the country.
He told sources in an interview on Tuesday July 27 that Ghana must be careful with this bill especially if it is not the interest of the public.
“As ECOWAS generally, we do not interfere in the domestic affairs of member countries however, if we find out there are issues that will bring about human rights issue , that will bring about insecurity, that will bring about undemocratic principles we will come in.
When asked whether Ghana should be cautious with this bill he answered “ I believe so, If it is not in the interest of the people,” he said.