Asante Akyem North Member of Parliament, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, has said the introduction of the Human Sexual and Family Values Bill 2021, otherwise known as Anti-LGBTQ/Gay bill is just to reinforce an already existing law which criminalises the act.
He says the Bill is not something which is entirely novel considering the existing of the law of unnatural canal knowledge which is against the practice of homosexuality.
The legislator explains Parliament only saw the need to bring the additional bill to outlaw the promotion and advocacy for the act.
He could not come to terms with how an act that is frown upon and forbidden could be promoted freely, the reason the enactment of the now controversial bill is necessary to bring clarity and comprehensive closure to the development.
Speaking on The Key Points on TV3 Saturday, March 09, 2024, the Asante Akyem North lawmaker explained that the unnatural canal knowledge has existed for over six decades and cannot be termed as something new.
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“…And people think that this law seeks to criminalise the act of LGBTQ, no, that’s not the point. There is already an existing law that criminalises same. But this law proposes to expand the effectiveness of the existing law into publication, advocacy and promotion. And that’s what this bill seeks to criminalise so that, something that you’re forbidden to do, you’re not clandestinely publishing or advocating or promoting on the quiet.
“So, this law is to criminalise that section of the continuum and not to introduce a bill that will criminalise the action. And we have had this law since 1960 until recently that people from the foreign affairs community decided to introduce such cultures in Ghana,” he explained.
Mr. Appiah-Kubi further highlighted that Ghanaians are naturally opposed to the practice and promotion of homosexuality together with its advocacy even without the current bill, considering the spontaneous reaction that the introduction of some flyers and other campaigns some time ago was met with.
“Even without the law, the people of Ghana say no. When we woke up one day to see publication of some weird flyers and colours, everybody became alarmed. Remember, there was an attack at the office which was not provoked or organised by anybody. It was a spontaneous attack,” he disclosed.
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There is so much pressure on President Akufo-Addo to assent to the bill which was passed by Parliament on February 28, 2024, following the reservations some people have been raising especially regarding its criminal bit.
The Finance Ministry, has, however, written to the President not to assent to the bill due to its implications on the relationship between Ghana and her development partners.
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.
