Private legal practitioner, Lawyer Akoto Ampaw has bemoaned the criminalization of the LGBTQI+ agenda in the country saying that it can lead to future marginalization of other minority groups in Ghana.
Expressing his displeasure over what he describes as the will of the majority being used against the minority with regard to the anti LGBTQI+ bill, he indicated that the fact that the majority of Ghanaians do not like the LGBTQI+ agenda does not necessarily mean it should be criminalized and a bill set against it.
In this regard, Lawyer Ampaw has cautioned against the conduct of Ghanaian anti LGBTQI+ advocates as he says it is against the country’s Constitution.
“…the case is being made that the overwhelming majority of Ghanaians do not like Gays and therefore there should be a law against them. We are threading a very slippery road because if the view of Ghanaians is that anything that the overwhelming majority do not like should be criminalized, then it means that the constitution has no place…”
He noted that, if the concerns of the anti LGBTQI+ advocates are heeded to, it can provide the platform for others to trend on a similar tangent.
“Today a small minority like the LGBTQ group have been targeted and their very existence criminalized. Tomorrow, it could be some small religious group that people do not like. They will criminalize them contrary to the constitution. The next day, it will be other minorities in society. This sectarian bill goes beyond LGBTQ people. Democracy involves both the majority rule and protection of the minority…”
He however debunked the assertion that because he is the lawyer for the president he speaks the thoughts of the president adding that he does not carry other people’s agenda.
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Everybody knows me, knows that I am not a pimp, I don’t take money for other people, to carry out other people’s agenda, I fight for principle, and let me make this point clear here, I do not represent the president of Ghana, … I am an independent person…and we all have the obligation to defend and protect the constitution of Ghana.” He emphasized.
Meanwhile, Sam Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram and also the lead sponsor of the anti-gay bill in parliament, speaking on GBC and monitored by ATLFMNEWS says homosexuality is not a human right, indicating that homosexuality is not gender.
According to him, the bill does not criminalize homosexuals but those who promote sympathy of the act for others to engage in it.
Source: Lydia Sekyi Acquah & Rosemary Lebene Sabakpo/ATLFMNEWS
