The member of parliament for Ningo-Prampram and one of the sponsors of the Anti-LGBTQ bill, Sam Nartey George says he disagrees with the motion moved by the deputy majority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin to remove the custodian sentence from the proposed bill.
Sam George asserts that carrying out such an amendment will defeat the purpose of the bill.
Deputy Majority Leader and the Effutu legislator, Alexander Afenyo-Markin on the floor of parliament Thursday barred the third reading of the Anti-LGBTQ bill.
He explained that he is in no way against the principles of the promotion of proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian family values however he opposes the provision that would lead to the imprisonment of individuals implicated in engaging in or promoting LGBTQ activities in the country.
He therefore moved a motion to allow the house to thoroughly consider amendments that are proposed in the bill with the view of substituting community service for incarceration.
According to him, the bill’s punitive action would not aid in rehabilitating the culprits.
“The issue before us is behavioural and it is my humble view that in dealing with behavioural matters, incarceration is not the solution, it makes the matter worse.
Various law reforms have been proposed in respect of the sentencing regime in our country. Various discourse led to one point that our court system should introduce a more humane, reformative, rehabilitative system where people who breach our laws, who sin against our legislation would have an opportunity to reform and be reintegrated,” he said.
The deputy majority leader made the contention that to jail a person for his or her sexuality would not be the solution to maintaining our Ghanaian family values.
Meanwhile, the Ningo-Prampram legislator took the Effutu MP on for asserting that passing the bill in its current state will also attract international consequences for the country.
Sam George emphasized the importance of not blindly following international norms that contradict Ghana’s values and legislation.
He questioned the moral high ground of certain international partners, like the United States, who still practice executions and have laws allowing custodial sentencing for practices like polygamy.
“I hope the honourable Afenyo Markin will revert his mind as well to the fact that many of our international partners, like the United States, in January of 2024, executed a man who was sentenced, a 58-year-old man convicted of murder. Ghana has not carried out a death penalty, as far as I’m aware, since at least 1992.” He added.
To the Ningo-Prampram legislator, there should be a critical assessment of the standards imposed by other nations.
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Source: Eric Sekyi/ATLFMNEWS
