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[Full Text] Ghana's LGBT Bill 2021 ready

Headlines Full Text Ghana's LGBT Bill 2021 ready
JUL 22, 2021 LISTEN

The speaker of Ghana’s parliament last month received a private member’s bill from eight legislators.

The specifics of the new proposal were not announced but it was reported to ‘criminalise the promotion, advocacy, funding and act of homosexuality.’ ”

Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, one of the eight legislators backing the bill, claimed that “homosexuality is not a human right. It is a lifestyle choice. A sexual preference.”

But Rightify Ghana, a human rights organization in Ghana stated that such a bill could erode progress in the fight against HIV / AIDS. “Our concern is that, access to HIV services for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people will be severely affected by the anti-LGBTQ bill -– further criminalizing LGBTQI people, organizations and activities as well as people who support them.”

“When such a homophobic bill is passed, people who have been exposed to HIV, may be discouraged from visiting clinics for fear of discrimination and arrests.

“Service providers may also be threatened with the law and this may negatively impact their work and service delivery.”

The group quoted a statement from the UN anti-AIDS program: “Laws that criminalize same-sex sexual relations undermine the basic human rights of LGBTI people and increase their vulnerability to HIV. LGBTI rights are human rights. They must be protected!”

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin said the practice of homosexuality, which is strongly abhorred by Ghanaians will not be allowed to take root in the country.

‘I am very clear in my mind that the Parliament of Ghana will pass this Bill [to criminalise LGBTQ]. I have gone through it and I will confirm that the Bill will be a reference point for many countries. It has gone through all the provisions of the constitutions, laws, and international obligations.’

‘I want to assure all of you that we will create room for the Bill to be presented to Parliament officially. We will refer it to the appropriate committee and take it through all the stages of processing a Bill, and it shall be passed this year,’ the Speaker said.

Describing LGBTQI activities as a pandemic, Alban Bagbin said it “must be fought by all of us.”

“I can tell you that it is more than COVID-19, and I am happy that our beloved country, Ghana, is together in this. The President has spoken, our traditional leaders have spoken, our religious leaders have spoken together, and Ghanaians have spoken with one voice, and we don’t want to do anything that has to do with LGBTQ activities. I will always do what is right because good will always triumph over evil.”

Download copy of the LGBT Bill 2021 here

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