President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would have no choice but to sign the anti-gay bill into law if it is passed by Parliament, according to Professor Vladimir Antwi Danso, an international relations expert and the Dean of the Ghana Armed Forces Staff and Command College.
He said that Mr. Akufo-Addo must recognize that it is the people’s voice that has spoken out against homosexuality in Ghana and that he must act in the interests of the governed.
“Let us hope that this time our president understands that is the feeling of Ghanaians; it is a bill from Parliament, but I strongly suspect that if our voices are strong, it is the people’s voice, I don’t think the president will keep the bill; otherwise, he will do so at his own detriment,” Professor Antwi Danso told TV3’s Evelyn Tengmaa in an interview.
He further said that if the anti-Gay bill becomes law, Ghana would not be breaking any international law.
He said that there would be no sanctions imposed on the oil-producing West African country as a result of the government’s decision to outlaw homosexuality.
The bill, which is being sponsored by Ningo Prampram member Samuel Nartey George and a few other politicians, will be presented in Parliament for the first reading today, August 2.
Portions of the bill reads “A person who, by use of media, technological platform, technological account or any other means, produces, procures, markets, broadcasts, disseminates, publishes or distributes a material for purposes of promoting an activity prohibited under the Bill, or a person uses an electronic device, the Internet service, a film, or any other device capable of electronic storage or transmission to produce, procure, market, broadcast, disseminate, publishes or distribute a material for purposes of promoting an activity prohibited under the Bill commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a term of imprisonment of not less than five years and not more than ten years.”
The bill’s supporters have faced criticism from certain quarters.
For example, Ghanaian singer Sister Derby, who is also a renowned champion for LGBT+ rights in Ghana, said that Sam George is “obsessed with people’s sexual orientation” and labeled him a deviant and backward thinker.
Gabby Otchere-Darko, former Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, has said that gay acts are already banned in Ghana.
He claims that the new anti-gay 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 given his word he won’t legalise 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.
Professor Antwi Danso, on the other hand, said, “I do not have to murder myself simply because you feed me.” The international system requires that each country respect the other country’s rights, laws, customs, and the way individuals conduct themselves.
“We are not doing anything against international law. Why are they not selling this thing soo strongly in Saudi Arabia which is one of their best friends?”
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SOURCE: 3NEWS
