LGBTQ+ Bill was never part of our Visit to UK Parliament- Akatsi South MP debunks reports
The Ranking of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament, Hon Bernard Ahiafor has debunked media reports that some members of the committee were invited to the UK parliament over the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, currently before parliament.
According to him, the content of the invitation never made mention of the Bill and all issues the MPs discussed at the UK Parliament never feature the Bill.
Speaking to EXPRESSNEWSGHANA in an interview in parliament, Hon Bernard Ahiafor, the MP for Akatsi Soutj Constituency said he was shocked to read in the media while in UK that, the Committee was invited over the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, saying, ” that was a complete fabrication and unprofessional reportage” as the reason for the invitation could have simply be verify with Ghana’s parliament on the nature of the invitation and issues to be discuss.
Hon Ahiafor explained that such invitation was not the first time extended to Ghana parliament and that the meeting was rather centered on the Death Penalty law and and other relevant Human Rights issues among Commonwealth countries.
The MP also dismissed the allegation that the four MPs were bribed by the UK authorities to take dissenting views on the LGBTQ+ Bill, which he said could only be concluded by self imagination.
He questioned how the UK could bribe four Ghanaian MPs to change the minds of the 18 member committee and the 275 MPs of Ghana.
” I found that bribery allegation laughable, how is it possible for the UK parliament to bribe we the four MPs that went for the meeting, bribe the entire 18 member committee and the entire parliament of the 275 MPs including the sponsors of the Bill?”, Hon Ahiafor quizzed the reportage..
The four members who were invited includes Hon Bernard Ahiafor, his Deputy Ranking, Hon Francis Xavier Sosu, Chairman of the Committee Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi and Hon Kwesi Amenyaw-Cheremeh, MP for Sunyani East.
The MP said several senior MPs of the House of Commons and House of the Lord took turns to address the Ghanaian delegation and shared their experience on the death penalty laws in both Ghana and UK.
The anti-LGBTQI+ bill seeks to criminalise the activities of homosexuals in Ghana, and even seeks to criminalise any form of advocacy in support of homosexuals.
The bill also threatens the very existence of LGBTQI people, meaning that they are perpetually put in a position where they are subjected to physical and psychological violence endorsed by the state.
It also compels Ghanaians to police gender and sexuality in their homes, workplaces, and everyday lives.
Source: expressnewsghana.com
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