The Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel George Nettey, has served notice that they would thwart the business interests of entities in Ghana belonging to western powers. if they sanction the Speaker or any Member over the passage of the anti-gay bill.
The notice, with the backing of his fellow Legislators, followed sanctions imposed on the Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament after the African country passed a bill against homosexuality.
Commenting on the report by the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee on the bill, of which he is one of the proponents, Sam George dared the western world to try that on Ghana’s Parliament.
“And I want to use this opportunity with the support of my fellow Members of Parliament since we all support this bill to serve notice to the Western powers that we have taken judicial notice of what they have done to the Speaker of Uganda after Uganda passed the bill.
“We will also serve notice that if they replicate the same with our Speaker and Members of Parliament, we will also take action against their business interests in our country because they sell in this country, make money from here, and take it back home. They cannot take us for ransom.”
He used the opportunity to celebrate the Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, for his stellar leadership in ensuring the bill got the needed attention.
He cited that Italy dedicated the month of June to family and advocated for the same in Ghana to celebrate the family values of the country.
NO VIOLATION
On his part, the Ranking Member of the Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, could not fathom why Ghanaian men should be forced to sideline “soft-bodied women for stiff-bodied men.”
Contrary to claims of human rights, he argued that the bill, if passed into law, would not violate Article 108 of the 1992 constitution of Ghana, adding that Section 100 of the Financial Management Act would also not be violated.
He added that no international treaty had also been violated in the bill and indicated that those against its passage had not cited one.
CULTURE AND VALUES
The MP for Asante Akim North, Andy Appiah-Kubi, in his debate to support the passing of the bill said man was born with an automatic and natural right, determined by sex from birth and, therefore, any “attempt to change” that is an attempt to do that which is unnatural.
The MP for Asawase, Muntaka Mubarak Mohammed, argued that European countries are afraid to push human rights advocacy for LGBTQ+ in Saudi Arabia, because of the benefits they get from the oil there.
He indicated that should the western powers cease their support for Ghana after the passage, “we [Ghanaians] are happy to eat grass, but we will keep our values and culture.”
The MP for Bekwai, who is the Second Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu said in all societies, there are means of dealing with minor deviance and argued that the anti-gay bill seeks to do the same in the interest of the greater populace, adding that “Mr. Speaker, this bill allows us to be the Ghanaians we are.”
In her submission, the MP for Ablekuma West, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, indicated that the MPs were aware of homosexuality in the various communities, which is why there is a description of it in the languages of the country.
However, she added that “it is incumbent on us as MPs to craft a piece of legislation that is not in conflict with our constitution or existing legislation.”
She commended the “Committee for the extensive work they have done to clean up the bill.”
Other MPs, including Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Dan Botwe, Cletus Avoka and Ahmed Ibrahim also contributed to the debate.
