There are more pressing issues to tackle — Sam Okudzeto questions relevance of anti-LGBTQ+ bill

A member of Ghana's Council of State, Sam Okudzeto, has questioned the need for the controversial bill criminalizing homosexuality, arguing it does not address real economic issues facing Ghanaians.

In a TV interview, Mr Okudzeto said the bill makes a "nonsense issue" into a national priority when more pressing matters like corruption should be the focus.

"We have even tried to induce the churches, they are all running around calling on the president to sign the bill. All the sins which are listed in the Bible, what have they been doing about it? LGBTQI is the only one they have seen? We talk about corruption, corruption, from the messenger to the top, every one of us is involved in corruption," he remarked.

The veteran lawyer added that what consenting adults do in private is none of anyone's business and does not impact the economy or put food on tables.

"When a man and woman go and sleep in the bedroom, is that my business? How does that affect the economy? How does that put food out of my mouth? Does that affect my education?" Mr Okudzeto questioned.

He dismissed the bill as being "completely out of the issue", saying Ghana has more pressing problems to tackle than people of the same gender being romantically involved.

"We are preoccupied with someone sitting with a man or a woman sitting with a woman as being a national issue. The whole thing about LGBTQI is a nonsense issue, it should not have come in the first place," the Council of State member asserted.

Meanwhile, the bill passed by Parliament on February 28, is currently awaiting presidential assent as President Akufo-Addo has decided to await the ruling of court cases challenging its constitutionality.