Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill will be passed before Christmas – Sam George
Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has expressed optimism that the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values 2021 being considered by Parliament will be enacted into law before Christmas this year.
He made this known during an interaction with the media.
“When this law passes hopefully before Christmas this year, when it’s passed it then means that your editorial policy will need to take into cognizance the content of movies or videos that you air to ensure that it does not infringe on the law,” he added.
Parliament has been reviewing the bill, also known as Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill has stirred debates both domestically and internationally for about two years.
The bill seeks to criminalize activities related to homosexuality and impose penalties on offenders.
However, the MP has emphasized that once the law is enacted, editorial policies will need to be revised to ensure compliance, and any content contrary to the law, particularly in videos and movies, will not be tolerated.
He has also voiced his frustrations about pressure to adopt certain lifestyles that are inconsistent with Ghana’s culture and traditions.
He emphasized that Ghana should uphold its cultural and traditional values, and passing the anti-gay law is essential to maintain these values.
“They have our cultures we have our customs, our customs are not pro LGBTQ, you are coming to our country to come and do business or whatever here and you that I should leave the God given highway and go and enter the gutter. “
Earlier this year, Sam George responded to a claim made by the US Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Virginia Palmer, regarding the potential loss of investor confidence if the anti-gay bill is passed into law.
“Ghana is a very welcoming, tolerant society, with lots of interreligious harmony, lots of ethnic harmony that makes Ghana strong and stable, and attractive for investments.
“I hope it stays that way with regard to the LGBTQI Community. There is money to be made, and the color of your money is green or red but if there is discrimination or worse then that will send a signal to not just LGBTQ investors but other American companies that Ghana is less welcoming than I am telling people that it is now,” US Ambassador Virginia Palmer said in an interview on Thursday, August 10,” she added.
The MP reiterated that Ghana remains open and welcoming to American investors, highlighting the nation’s stable and viable democracy.
In a Twitter post, he emphasized Ghana’s readiness to embrace investors who value principles of integrity and respect for the cultural values of the Ghanaian society.
“Dear Virginia Palmer, US Ambassador to Ghana, I have seen videos of your comments at the US-Ghana Business Summit.
“You have expressed fears that investors from the US would not find Ghana attractive if we as Ghanaians uphold our values and reject the depravity of LGBTQI. I find that really surprising,” he stated.
The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values 2021 was introduced to Parliament in July 2021 and underwent its first reading on August 3 of the same year.
The bill was presented by a group of eight members, including Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, Rev John Ntim Forjour, Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini, and Rita Naa Odoley Sowah.
Other members who introduced the bill include Helen Adjoa Ntoso and Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor.
While some segments of society support the bill due to its alignment with Ghana’s cultural and religious values, it has faced criticism from human rights activists who argue that it infringes upon the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ individuals.
theindependentghana.com
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