John Akparibu Ndebugri, a private legal practitioner and former Member of Parliament, has slammed the LGBTQI+ law, calling it useless and a waste of Ghanaians’ time.
In his perspective, proponents of the Bill, which has grown divisive in nature, are relying only on public misinformation and, in effect, attempting to force those who oppose it to embrace it.
“This Bill is unnecessary, those who are pushing the Bill are only misleading the public” Mr. Ndebugri averred in an interview on Citi FM on Thursday November 11, 2021.
In furtherance of his position, Mr. Ndebugri stated that he was not shocked to see several famous Ghanaian scholars emerge to dispute the Bill, requesting its removal, and that if he had been in Accra, he would have been among the professors.
He also argued against views held by the proponents of the Bill that “choice” is not fundamental law, saying that position “is not true” and must be rejected outright.
Mr. Ndebugri questioned why a bill would seek to prevent someone from freely associating since the 1992 constitution guarantees all Ghanaians the right to do so, adding that “the Members of Parliament who are pushing for the Bill to become law are just proceeding on supposition.”
“The Bill talked about association, but why would a bill be against association when our constitution allows same. The Bill is obviously speculating and we don’t make laws base on speculation”.
How do you see me with someone of same sex and you assume that we are gay or in sexual relationship, he quizzed.
“So, if you ask me my view on the Bill, I think it is absolutely unnecessary”
Mr. Ndebugri believes that there are other critical concerns facing Ghanaians that members of the legislature should address instead of wasting time drafting laws that prevent people from making choices or associating.
He called for rejection of the bill.
“That Bill is ought to be dismissed the very day it was introduced at the Parliament. It doesn’t worth wasting time on”
Background
Six Members of Parliament (MPs) have jointly sponsored a bi-partisan Private Members Bill for the House to pass legislation to proscribe and criminalise the advocacy and practice of homosexuality in the country.
According to the six lawmakers, the bill, if passed, would strengthen Ghana’s legal jurisprudence and existing legislation on unnatural carnal knowledge to reflect the current state of affairs.
They are Samuel Nartey George, MP, Ningo-Prampram, Emmanuel Bedzrah, MP, Ho West, and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, North Tongu, all members of the minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs.
The majority New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs are, Andy Appiah Kubi, Asante Akim North, John Ntim Fordjour, Assin South, and Kwaku Asante-Boateng, Asante Akim South.
The intention of the six lawmakers follows the opening of an advocacy office for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersexual (LGBTQI), in Accra.
