Rev Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong: The Proposed Anti-LGBTQI+ Bill Only Seeks to Protect Our Family Values And Sanctity of Marriage
The draft legislation by Ghana’s parliament to criminalize LGBTQI+ practice and advocacy in the country has triggered a lot of reactions from the public. This Anti-LGBTQI+ proposed bill comes under the name ‘The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021.’
The private members’ bill championed by eight members of parliament have released a proposed bill against LGBTQ+, and this has aroused mixed reactions from the general public.
The eight members of parliament championing the bill are;
- Sam George (MP, Ningo-Prampram)
- Della Sowah (MP, Kpando)
- Emmanuel Bedzrah (MP, Ho West)
- John Ntim Forjour (MP, Assin South)
- Alhassan Suhuyini (MP, Tamale North)
- Rita Sowah (MP, La Dadekotopon)
- Helen Ntoso (MP, Krachi West)
- Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor (MP, South Dayi)
Former General Secretary of the Christian Council and Executive Director for Alliance for Christian Advocacy Africa, Reverend Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong in an interview disclosed his concerns about the issue.
“The bill is just a reflection of National concern, Ghanaian concern. It is a representative consciousness of this nation. Even though we have had some individuals who have sponsored the bill, with people like Professor Mills, who gave a national assurance that it will never happen, and from Former Speaker of Parliament Michael Quaye, and our current president who has also given a verbal assurance that it will never happen.”
“But Ghanaians were calling for a legal framework, structures, that will protect our family values and sanctity of marriage; and it seems to me that that is what this bill seeks to assure”, he added.
With regards to the concerns of the suppression of other persons’ Human rights, Rev Dr. Kwabena Opuni stated that rights should be packaged properly so that one knows their limitations.
“We need a broader perspective on the subject. Human rights should not be so paroquial. Although some people identify themselves as queer and some as animals, they must also know that sanctity of society must be protected. And this is why we need legal framework to protect human rights, not only individual rights but the collective rights of society.”
BELOW ARE THE KEY THINGS IN THE PROPOSED BILL AGAINST LGBTQI+
