The Member of Parliament for Tamale North Constituency, Hon. Alhassan Sayibu Suhiyini has indicated that he and the other sponsors of the anti-LGBTQ bill are pleased of Ghanaians for their support during the passing of the bill.
He stated that the support the bill enjoyed from the public indicated that Parliament has undertaken a worthwhile course that is reflective of the cultural and moral values of Ghanaians.
“The basis of every law is the morality of a society, so what a society deems important to legislate on depends on their way of life and culture. This anti-LGBTQ legislation resonates and reflects our way of life as a people”.
Hon. Alhassan Sayibu Suhiyini
Furthermore, he indicated that any individual who has an issue with the bill has to first try to understand the bill from the perspective of Ghanaians and their culture as the practice of LGBTQ puts a dent in their belief systems.
He stated that the argument that some Ghanaians are not in support of the bill and that it should not be passed is flawed.
He noted that once the majority of Ghanaians want the bill passed, it should be passed, emphasizing that in a democracy, the majority connotes all. “That is how Presidents are decided, otherwise we would have said, majority of the people’s President, but we call them the President of all” he added.
Moreover, he indicated by passing the bill through the various stages of legislation, Parliament has done what it is required to do.
He noted that the bill enjoyed bi-partisan support from Parliament, emphasizing that the bill was the only bill in any Parliament of the Fourth Republic that received the largest number of inputs from Parliament and the public at large.
The Member of Parliament noted that the attitude of the Executive concerning the bill and other Private Member Bills calls for a thorough assessment of the Executive arm of government.
Executive’s Attitude Toward Bill
Moreover, Hon. Alhassan Suhiyini highlighted that the Parliament of Ghana has effectively showcased its commitment to upholding the interests and principles of Ghanaian citizens.
He, however, noted that the Executive branch’s lack of decisive action regarding the bill raises doubts about its position on the matter.
“This whole bill was triggered after the President granted an interview and suggested that the act was not legalized in Ghana. That people were not mobilizing to bring about the necessary pressure and that in his view, if that happened, it was bound to happen, it was bound to be legalized”.
Hon. Alhassan Sayibu Suhiyini
The Tamale North MP further indicated passing the bill therefore was a means to prevent the practice of LGBTQ activities in the country by preventing people from mobilizing and demanding legislation that legalizes the practice.
He argued that the President’s meeting with the international community and the events that followed it created doubt about the President’s stance on the LGBTQ bill.
“When it takes his Vice President, Dr. Bawumia many months to take a religious pronouncement on it without calling on the driver to take a firm position, then you wonder if it just politics for them”. – Hon. Alhassan Suhiyini
He argued that the President’s decision to send the LGBTQ bill back to parliament is suspicious, emphasizing even though the President had refused to assent to other bills such as the Witchcraft bill, he did not return them to Parliament.
Moreover, the Member of Parliament stated that the onus of securing the President’s assent for the bill no longer solely rests on the bill’s sponsors and the Parliament.
Highlighting the current circumstances surrounding the bill, he emphasized that it is now incumbent upon the broader public and media to play a role in ensuring the bill receives presidential approval.
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