North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has said Ghanaians do not have issues with persons who decide to practice LGBTQ discreetly since they have existed amongst people for ages.
The MP says for some years now, it is public knowledge that people practice homosexuality in their bedroom and “we were willing to let sleeping dogs lie, because we’ve seen all of these symptoms and that but we haven’t bothered much really as a country with what people decide to do in their bedrooms.”
According to the lawmaker, Ghanaians only had problems when people decided to come out to advocate and promote these practices which go against the values and customs of the Ghanaian society.
Speaking Saturday, March 09, 2024, the MP noted that it was calls for the right of persons to engage in such acts and promote it, together with an alien literature which was to be introduced into Ghana’s educational curricular that necessitated the institution of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2021, otherwise known as Anti-LGBTQ/Gay bill.
“Sometime in 2019 we woke up one morning and saw all of this literature from UNESCO on comprehensive sexuality education in our schools. We summoned the Ministry of Education and the GES and they told us they have not sanctioned it,” Mr. Ablakwa told host, Alfred Ocansey on The KeyPoints.
His comments come on the back of a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance on the possible implications of the Anti-LGBTQ Bill from Ghana’s development partners should the President assent to it.
The Ministry is urging President Akufo-Addo to hold off on signing the bill into law as it may cost the country greatly.
These risks include a potential loss of $850 million in budgetary support from the World Bank this year alone.
In the 5-page document, the Ministry explained that “for 2024 Ghana will lose US$600 million Budget support and US$250 million for the Financial Stability Fund.”
“This will negatively impact Ghana’s foreign exchange reserves and exchange rate stability as these inflows are expected to shore the country’s reserve position,” the statement added.
Promptly assent the anti-LGBTQ+ bill into law — Chiefs urge Akufo-Addo
