Sam George Challenges Prez LGBTQ+ Response During Meeting With VP Harris

Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram Constituency, Sam George, has rubbished President Akufo-Addo’s assurance that Ghana’s Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill has been amended.

The anti-gay bill introduced by some Members of Parliament in 2021 seeks to among other things institute 3 to 5 years of imprisonment for engaging in same-sex intercourse; 5 to 10 years of imprisonment for anyone who produces, procures, or distributes material deemed to be promoting LGBT+ activities.

It also seeks to institute 6 months to 1-year imprisonment for a public show of amorous relations between people of the same sex; a ban on sponsoring LGBT+ groups; a ban on adoption and fostering for LGBT+ potential parents; prohibition of same-sex marriage; 6 months to 3 years imprisonment for anyone who harasses someone accused of being LGBT+ and others.

During a joint press briefing at the Jubilee House on Monday, March 27, visiting US Vice President, Kamala Harris and President Akufo-Addo answered questions on the bill.

Kamala indicated that LGBTQ+ is a human rights issue.

“I feel very strongly about the importance of supporting the freedom and supporting the fighting for equality among all people, and that all people be treated equally. I will also say that this is an issue that we consider, and I consider to be a human rights issue, and that will not change.”

On his part, President Akufo-Addo said the bill had been modified by Ghana’s Attorney-General.

“My understanding…is that substantial elements of the bill have already been modified as a result of the intervention of the attorney general,” he said.

In an interview on News 360, Sam George disputed the statement of the President.

“The president doesn’t know what he is talking about. The bill has not been substantially changed. The bill remains as tough and as rigid as it was. The focus of the bill has not changed {and} the objective of the bill has not changed”, he said.

He added that in the Parliamentary Committee’s last meeting with the Attorney-General, the latter said: “he was happy with the provision of the bill and that the bill was going to deal with discrimination in our current legal jurisdiction and expand our legal jurisdiction”.

He, therefore, assured that the form of the bill, with its objectives, remains in force.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini