NDC Member of Parliament for Ho West, Emmanuel Bedzrah, says he expects President Akufo-Addo to assent to the Anti-LGBTQ Bill when the time comes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking on The Point of View on Citi TV, he said over 90 percent of legislators in Parliament were in support the Bill that has courted controversy and outrage since it was leaked last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou will see the overwhelming support when it comes to the debate on the floor, and I can assure you that President will have no other choice but to assent,\u201d Mr. Bedzrah said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the co-founder of the Centre for Democratic Development, CDD-Ghana, Prof. Gyimah-Boadi, says he hoped the Bill, which he described as homophobic, is made to just \u201crot away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can only express the hope that should this Bill pass through Parliament, the President withholds assent to it. I can only hope,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He had also described the private members\u2019 Bill as \u201ca complete waste of a very important instrument for promoting democratic governance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bill, which is being backed by eight MPs, is the first major step Ghana has taken to clearly criminalise LGBTQ people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The legislation, titled \u2018The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021\u2019, will among other things ensure jail terms for some LGBTQ activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Groups and individuals who advocate for the rights of LGBTQ people or offer support also face sanctions under the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bill has sparked outrage from human rights activists and persons sympathetic to LGBTQ people, but a significant number of Ghanaians have welcomed the proposed legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Source<\/strong>: citinewsroom.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n Send your news stories to\u00a0dannyboy744@gmail.com<\/a>\u00a0and via WhatsApp on +233 266777777<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n