International Diplomatic Consultant, Farouk Al-Wahab has indicated that Ghana’s development partners will be a hindrance to the passing of the anti-gay bill.
He intimated that these countries have a huge role in the development of Ghana’s economy. Hence, they may want to dictate to the country what to accept and what not to accept.
“Our problem as a country is the relationship, we have with developing partner countries. These countries that propagate the LGBTQ, are those who are supporting our economy. Without them, Ghana cannot balance its budget. Our developing partners include America who takes care of our education through aids and grants. German hasn’t openly spoken on the issue and even though they are neutral on the debate, they are pro-LGBTQ.”
Al-Wahab proposed that for the country to make an independent decision on LGBTQ+, it must begin to take steps to “make the economy better.”
Earlier this year, the Speaker of Parliament received a private member bill from some MPs that would expand on the current law that provides up to three years in prison for same-sex activity.
Reports have it that the new bill when passed will prohibit and criminalize advocacy, funding and act of LGBTQ+ while promoting conversion therapy programs seeking to “convert” people from homosexuality to heterosexuality.
Meanwhile, fifteen renowned legal, academic and civil society professionals have filled a memorandum challenging the anti-gay legislation submitted to Parliament.
In the memorandum, they contend that the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021, which seeks to criminalize LGBTQ+ and adjacent activities, is an “impermissible invasion of the inviolability of human dignity.”
Some Christian leaders, on the other hand, have submitted a memorandum to Parliament on the Proper Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, endorsing the bill.
