Standing up for what one believes in can come with its own repercussion, and in varying forms – for better or worse. Especially when a society or country’s faith, cultural inclinations and moral judgements come out to play, the conviction is more emphatic, more so with an anti-gay bill pending but moving forcefully.
Currently, Ghana’s parliament is willing to go the long haul in passing to law the promotion of Proper Sexual Human Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill also known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, which has faced an uphill, yet surmountable task. Despite the deluge of law suits, the bill has finally been accepted unanimously in a motion for the bill, with the subsequent consideration and passage to take place.
Ghana, like most Sub-Saharan African countries, has had to battle it out with foreign countries on the need to pass the law on anti-gay bill. Legislative protections for LGBT people have been said to remain extremely weak across the continent, as same-sex relations are still prohibited outright in 32 countries. Decriminalization has progressed very slowly in recent years, aside from a few exceptions in southern Africa.
LGBT issues have made national headlines in several countries over the years, emphasizing the resolve by African countries to hold on to the one thing they deem sacred till death do them part, and rightly so. Western powers have had significant say on the activities in African nations, but not this time round.
When it comes to most African countries, religion or faith kicks to the curb whoever’s ox is literally gored in the process. There is an order to how things must naturally unfold and they intend keeping it that way. Ben Ahiafor, a Member of Parliament for Akatsi South, during parliamentary proceedings on the bill predicted that countries that practice LGBTQ will be extinct in fifty years, with another legislator questioning who should give birth for a gay couple to come and adopt if they believe in same-sex relations.
Persecuted or not, the verdict stands
Owing to the emphatic disposition at play, the decision to maintain the “natural order” of things as God charged has come with its own persecutions on some African countries. Uganda, having recently passed into law its anti-gay bill, has faced some sanctions from foreign countries, particularly the US, threatening to cut back on aids. With Uganda unyielding, its new law states that a person who promotes homosexuality commits an offense and is liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding twenty years. It also requires Ugandans to report suspected homosexuals or violations of the law to the authorities.
On Museveni’s recommendation, the law prescribes rehabilitation for convicted homosexuals to change their sexual orientation, even though scientists say so-called conversion therapy is harmful and ineffective.
Ghana has its own law that when passed, would criminalize, with up to five years in prison, identifying as a LGBTQ+ person, having a gay relationship or intercourse. Marrying or intending to marry someone who has had gender reassignment surgery would also be criminalized, with up to five years in prison.
However, predicting a potential sanction from foreign powers, Ghana has issued some caution of its own, threatening that businesses from countries that will sanction Ghana risk bearing the consequences if action is taken against the country for approving the anti-gay bill.
While LGBTQ+ cannot be stopped completely in Ghana, it can be checked to prevent the indoctrination of innocent children. As it stands, books, cartoons, and films are on the rise where children are subtly indoctrinated by pro-LGBTQ+ messages.
These clandestine ways of indoctrination is intended to make normal, something so ‘queer’ to a country ‘biologically and spiritually’ inclined to maintaining the Creator’s original plans for humans.
Truly the situation can be worrying, yet surmountable. Whereas the criminalization of LGBT activities has been deemed to be overly harsh, one man has to be sane enough in this ‘crazy, crazy’ world not to experiment with such ‘daredevil’ antics, all in the name of exercising their rights and freedom of expression.
Ghana is on a path of minefields, and most certainly will have moments of detonation with western countries. But for a nation looking to keep the pattern of things, and ensure sanctity prevails in a world of stark depravity, the onus rests on the shoulders of the leaders, and Ghanaians literally, to defend their honor.
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