Professor Ransford Gyampo, an associate professor at the University of Ghana, has expressed doubts concerning the decision by some prominent Ghanaians who are kicking against the anti-gay bill to be genuine.
Speaking on the ongoing hearing by Parliament on the Anti-LGBTQ bill, he stated that those against the bill are not seeking the interest of the LGBTQ community but are only doing so for their selfish interest.
“I doubt the motive behind those who are opposed to the legislation. It is not because they want to protect the right of LGBTQ+ people, it is because they want to advertise their profession. I am talking about those professionals, especially lawyers”.
Professor Gyampo
He averred that, an advocacy group championed by legal practitioner, Akoto Ampaw and his “cohorts” cannot champion the forcing of the LGBTQ on the Ghanaian populace. He stated that in his view, it is nearly an exercise in futility that only gives recognition and advertisement to the profession of those who are leading or championing the fight.
“You see at every stage of democratic progression, there are distinct human rights that are extoled. Transitional democracies like Ghana tolerates any political right. Economic, social and cultural rights within which you can situate LGBTQ rights aren’t developed in transitional democracies”.
Professor Gyampo
Akoto Ampaw on Anti-LGBTQ bill
A group of prominent Ghanaians led by the renowned legal practitioner, Akoto Ampaw indicating that the anti-LGBTQ Bill violates all the fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the 1992 constitution and as such should be kicked against.
Leader of the Concerned Ghanaian Citizens group, Akoto Ampaw, indicated that the Bill stigmatizes the LGBTQ community as inhuman adding that the bill is not what Ghanaians fought for.
Professor Gyampo intimated that there should be a way of showing love to the people involved in the LGBTQ practice, with the aim of getting them out of what “we think is not the best” and not discriminate.
“I don’t believe that if even people are caught doing that, you should lynch them and all that. That is how come I think once there is a blue print or legislation that prescribes how they have to be treated then it is good. But that aside, I think that the law or the processes towards this legislation has also brought to the fore many key concerns some people have raised about the bill that is being drafted”.
Professor Gyampo
Parliament on Thursday, November 11, 2021 began hearing petitions on the bill that will ban LGBTQ rights in a proposal widely condemned by the international community. The lawmakers hearing petitions for and against the law, is the initial stage of debate over the “Promotion of proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values” bill.
The committee on constitutional, legal and parliamentary affairs is expected to hold public hearing on the law for 15 weeks before the House starts debating.
