Member of Parliament for North-Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has expressed the readiness of Parliament to probe allegations of visa sabotage against some MPs, as a result of their stand against the legalisation of LGBTQI in Ghana.

He revealed that it is disappointing for an embassy to victimise parliamentarians for opposing gay rights in Ghana. Mr Ablakwa explained that it further contradicts diplomatic courtesies and violates the treatments deserving of MPs who hold diplomatic passports.

Member of Parliament for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini, in a Facebook post revealed that he was denied visa by the Netherlands Embassy with the explanation that he would not return to Ghana.

Following this, Mr Ablakwa disclosed the preparedness of the Minority to investigate into the allegations and tackle the current development head-on. He revealed that once the House resumes, you can “expect that the legislative arm” of government will address the issue.

“… Absolutely! I can confirm to you that all kinds of discussions have already begun behind the scenes. We have also made contact with the Right Honourable Speaker’s Office and this is a matter that the Speaker too has a very serious view of. We will let these embassies know that our work must be done without fear or favour. Visa considerations cannot be weaponised and used against us …”

Relook retaliation against certain countries

On his part, Adu Nasir, an International Relations Consultant, called on MPs not to get embroiled in any form of retaliation over the denial of visa to MP for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini by the Netherlands Embassy.

According to him, Ghana does not have the “strength” to “stand up” to countries which have resorted to deny some personalities visas as a result of their opposition to LGBTQI in the country.

“I think that the call for retaliation is something that we need to take a very good look at, in the sense that we need to ask ourselves, if we need to respond in that order, what are the means? What are we using? What front are we coming from? If we say we are retaliating, on what grounds? I know people talk about the fact that these things cannot be done in Nigeria or Saudi Arabia or most of the Arab countries. But the question is, what do you hold that you can actually stand up and mention some of these countries…”
Mr Adu Nasir

Mr Nasir believes that with “the whole idea of visa denial to MPs”, there is still a way to address it. He therefore proposed that Ghana should call for a negotiation with the country in order to come up with measures to deal with the issues instead of retaliating.

“If you take a critical look at International Relations and we have our diplomats, years of experience and everything, it is times like this, that we need the expertise coming to the table instead of coming out with measures. I do not think that this is right for us to retaliate”.
Mr Adu Nasir