By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Executive Board of Mission Africa Incorporated USA/Ghana, in collaboration with the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship, the Worldwide Miracle Outreach UK led by Dr Lawrence Tetteh, the Inland Empire Concern African America Churches of California, (IECCAC (UNA-GH), Inter-Faith Christian for Jewish Strategic Diplomacy, USA, Christian Bible and Governance, have commended the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, the Rt. Hon. Alban Sumani Kingsford Bagbin, the eight Members of Parliament, and other groups and individuals sprinted to fight to come forward with landmark legislation such as the “Bill on the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values”.
According to a release issued and signed by the President and Founder of Dr. Kodjoe Sumney, the groups have been following with keen interest the attempt by some international and local institutions to abort the passage of the bill in its formative stages.
“We at the above-mentioned organisations are very proud of our gallant Members of Parliament, and our unwavering Speaker who stood up to be counted when it mattered most that despite all the threats and intimidation, put their lives, offices and travelling comfort on the line to resist the immoral Colonialism (LGBTQI+) agenda.
For this and many other reasons, the group will confer on the following: Rt. Hon. Alban Sumani Kingsford Bagbin, Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram constituency, Samuel Nartey George, Emmanuel Bedzrah (MP, Ho West), Della Adjoa Sowah (MP, Kpando), John Ntim Fordjour (MP, Assin South), Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini (MP, Tamale North), Helen Adjoa Ntoso (MP, Krachi West), Rita Naa Odoley Sowah (MP, La Dadekotopon), Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor (MP, South Dayi) and Lawyer Moses Foh Amoaning, the Mission Africa Humanitarian -“Good Fight of Faith Award,” Portions of the release stated.
According to the release, the awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at Justice D. F. Annan Hall, Parliament House, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The general public is therefore being invited to attend this memorable event to boost their confidence as well as to tell the rest of the world that, Ghana is behind them, Dr. Sumney added.
Let’s come together to encourage our MPs and the speaker to come up with bills that seek to protect and preserve our regional and traditional values, norms, and culture knowing that the whole nation will the against both external and internal aggression. He retorted.
Background
Eight members of Ghana’s Parliament jointly submitted a private bill to push for the criminalization of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI+) activities in the country.
The bill, which they term as a ‘Bill on the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values’, was presented to Speaker, Alban Bagbin on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.
The proponents of the bill want the promotion, advocacy, funding, and acts of homosexuality to be criminalised in the country.
In recent times, the LGBTQI+ community in Ghana has featured prominently in the news, especially after the arrest of 21 activists in the Volta Regional Capital, Ho.
Prior to that, police officers raided a house at Ashongman in Accra that was being used as an office for LGBQI+ Rights and a shelter for the LGBTQI+ community.
The two incidents reignited public debate on the subject, with some legislators, including the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, publicly declaring their interest in criminalising all forms of LGBTQI+ activities.
The bill, presented to the Speaker, is the first major step taken towards criminalisation.