LGBTQ Bill will be passed by Parliament before the end of the year – Speaker tells Coalition of Muslim Organisations

LGBTQ Bill will be passed by Parliament before the end of the year - Speaker tells Coalition of Muslim Organisations

At Parliament House, a delegation from the Coalition of Muslim Organizations of Ghana bestowed the title Saifu_llah, which means the Sword of God, on Rt. Hon. Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin.

The team, chaired by Hajj Abdul Rahman, recognised and applauded Mr Bagbin for his significant effort to defend and maintain Ghanaian values and norms against LGBTQ people.

Mr Speaker stated in his acceptance speech that he is overwhelmed by the honour and title bestowed upon him by the Coalition.

He guaranteed the Organisation that the LGBTQ Bill will be passed by Parliament by the end of 2023.

On Wednesday, July 5, Parliament had a discussion on the bill’s report from the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.

The study emphasised issues made by both supporters and opponents of the law.

According to the report, opponents of the bill argue that “LGBTQ+ activities form part of what the Constitution contemplates under Article 33 (5) about recognition of cerian rights and freedoms that are considered inherent in a democracy and which is intended to secure the rights and freedoms and dignity of the people.”

“Consequently, any attempt to prescribe different treatment to different people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender will be discriminatory and an affront to Article (17) 1 and (2) of the Constitution.”

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During the discussion, Member of Parliament for Okere, Dan Botwe, stated that, in addition to enacting the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values law, also known as the anti-gay law in Ghana, there would be a need to discover strategies to combat the spread of homosexuality.

“Beyond passing the bill, let us exercise internal vigilance,” he said.

Mr Dan Botwe went on to say that there may come a day when youngsters may go to stores and buy products with gay symbols on them. To that aim, he stated that, aside from the approval of the bill, all stakeholders must be vigilant in order to avoid the spread of homosexuality.

He went on to call homosexuality “total madness” and “a satanic force.”

“Let us not underestimate this satanic force,” he said emphatically.