Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has defended a private member bill that seeks to criminalize same-sex relationships in Ghana.
Speaking on JoyNews‘ Ghana Connect Friday, the legislator condemned same-sex relationships categorically. He stated that, homosexuality is not a fundamental human right but a human preference which is in breach of the 1992 Constitution.
“Let’s the argument be intellectual, let them be factual, let’s put the emotions aside and let’s face the fact, so those making those arguments are factually weak and do not stand the test,” he said.
According to him, the bill seeks to protect and promote proper human sexual rights which resonates with the Ghanaian Family Values.
JoyNews/AdomNews · Put emotions aside and let’s face fact by protecting proper human sexual rights – Sam George
“We are not going to play the ostrich, we know these people have been around for a while. We are not a moral police and we are not going to go into the core or the privacy of people’s bedrooms. No, that is not what this bill seeks to do.
“This is in response to the LGBTQ community having the temerity to open an LGBTQ office in Ghana to advocate for something which the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) criminalises. This bill is simply protecting or promoting proper human sexual right and Ghanaian family values,” he told host Evans Mensah.
His comment comes as a response to several criticism by a section of the Ghanaian populace, hours after a 36-page anti-LGBTQI+ bill was sighted on social media. The critics are against the fact that the bill criminalises the involvement, promotion, propagation, advocacy, support or funding for LGBTQI+ related activities.
The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021, will see culprits face a jail term of up to ten years depending on the crime, if passed in its current state.
Portions of the Bill state that individuals of the same sex who engage in sexual intercourse are; “liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than seven hundred and fifty penalty units and not more than five thousand penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment of not less than three years and not more than five years or both.”
The Bill further suggests that persons who engage in activities that “promote, support, express sympathy for or call for a change of public opinion towards an act prohibited under the Bill,” are liable on summary conviction to a term of imprisonment of not less than five years or not more than ten years.
Taking to social media to express their dissatisfaction, scores of Ghanaians called on Parliamentarians to channel their energy in drafting bills that will see the development of the country.
Reacting to that, the Ningo-Prampram lawmaker argued that, the bill does not impose financial burden on the economy.
He says the bill is funded and spearheaded by some MPs and not the state.
“Those who are making these arguments should tell me how a legislation or a private legal bill will fix poverty. I mean let’s be real and let’s be factual, how will a private members bill fix poverty. Many of the people making these arguments are educated people who should read the Constitution and know that a private members bill cannot stand the scrutiny of Parliament if it imposes cost on the state.
“So for me to sponsor a bill, it must be a bill that does not impose even one pesewa on the state. So those running around and making those comments and saying why don’t you do this to fix the health care system, to fix roads to fix any other things that attract costs to the state cannot be passed as a private members bill that must come from government, I don’t control government so the things I can control are issues that will not impose costs on the state,” he added
source: myjoyonline
