Mr. Tony Forson, a member of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), has declined to say whether homosexuality should be criminalized in Ghana.
When asked by TV3’s Komla Kluste on Sunday, 25th July 2021, if the behavior should be criminalized, he replied, “I am not going to answer that question.” He was referring to the anti-gay bill that is now before Parliament.
He further said that if the anti-Gay law is enacted, the GBA would have no choice but to live with it.
He said that legislators should be allowed to speak strongly for or against the bill on the floor in order to reach a sound conclusion that is in the best interests of the people as a whole.
Parts of the bill state that “a person who, by the use of media, a technological platform, a technological account, or any other means, produces, procures, markets, broadcasts, disseminates, publishes, or distributes a material for the purpose of promoting an activity prohibited by the Bill, or a person who uses an electronic device, the Internet service, a film, or any other device capable of electronic storage…”
Mr. Forson’s “Parliament is our collective wisdom, so I believe that every constituency, that is, every grouping, has representatives in Parliament, and whatever, as the president said, if there is a critical mass that is against it or for it, I believe that the representatives in parliament must be given the necessary ammunition to argue so that our collective consciousness as a country will be manifold.
“So, it is before Parliament, they are our elected representatives, and whatever they come out with I think we have to live with it.”
When asked if he has any concerns about the bill, he stated, “I will be honest with you, I have not seen all of it, I just got it yesterday so I have read about 12 pages of the bill, whether I have problems with it or not, we will make it known to my MP at the end of the reading and when I sample people’s opinions.”
Meanwhile, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, former Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, has said that gay activities are already banned in Ghana.
He claims that the law would only result in Ghana being banned for inciting hatred.
“Gay+ activities are already illegal in our country. But, we aren’t known to hate. The President has said that he would not legalize it.
“This Bill only serves one purpose: to get Ghana blacklisted for promoting hate! Surely, the promoters of the Bill can’t say they aren’t aware,” the leading member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) said in a tweet.
Samuel Nartey George, a Ningo Prampram lawmaker, and many other legislators are proposing an anti-LGBT+ Bill in Parliament.
Some people are criticizing Sam George for endorsing an anti-LGBT+ agenda.
For example, Ghanaian singer Sister Derby, a well-known champion for LGBT+ rights in Ghana, described him as “obsessed with people’s sexual orientation” and labeled him a pervert and backward thinker.
However, he has said that he is open to intellectual discussion on the anti-LGBT+ Bill that he and several of his colleagues are supporting.
On Friday, July 23, he stated on TV3’s News 360 that passionate outbursts had no place in legislation.
“We are opened to intellectual criticisms or criticisms and suggestions grounded in law. Emotional outbursts and emotional remarks have no place in law.
“If anybody has intellectual suggestions or addition we are willing to debate the issue.”
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SOURCE: ATLFM ONLINE
