Ahead of the introduction of a bill that seeks to criminalise LGBTQ+ identification and advocacy in Ghana, some Members of Parliament (MPs) were seen praying, presumably for the passage of the bill.
The MPs are members of the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship, a group of lawmakers and other workers in Ghana’s parliament who are brought together by their faith.
Parliamentarians are looking to submit on June 29, a private member’s bill authored by Ningo-Prampram MP Sam George that seeks to among other things, provide punitive responses to sexual practice that falls within the LGBTQ+ spectrum.
Earlier in the year, George also explained that if it becomes law, the legal proposal will target and criminalise advocacy of LGBTQ+ interests in the Ghanaian public space. There could also be a provision for “corrective” healthcare for those the lawmakers consider sufferers of psychological and biological factors that propel identification with the LGBTQ+ spectrum.
Sections of the Ghanaian public have voiced support for the bill arguing that LGBTQ+ orientations fall foul of Ghanaian culture.
Leading calls have come from leaders of the clergy who have described LGBTQ+ orientation as spiritual malfeasance.
On Tuesday morning, the MP for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor, who was one of those who joined the prayer session, tweeted:
The sponsors of what has been called the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill (2021) enjoys bipartisan support from parliamentarians from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Among the bill’s sponsors are Emmanuel Bedzrah (MP, Ho West); John Fordjuor (MP, Assin South); Della Sowah (MP, Kpando); Helen Ntoso (Krachi West) and Dafeamekpor (MP, South Dayi).
Meanwhile, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, who is yet to respond to receiving the bill, disclosed last week that efforts are underway to stop all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) activities in the country.
Source: TheGhanaReport