Speaker Bagbin Berates Kamala Harris, Akufo-Addo over Comments on LGBQT+Bill
Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has slammed US Vice President Kamala Harris’ undemocratic take on the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill currently before the House.
This comes after the US Veep, during an interaction at the Jubilee House on Monday, restated her stance on human right violation against minorities, adding that her position remains unchanged.
“I feel very strongly about the importance of supporting freedom and supporting the fighting for equality among all people and that all people be treated equally. I will also say that this is an issue that we consider, and I consider to be a human rights issue, and that will not change,” she said.
The Speaker has not taken kindly to these comments and has thus charged the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs working on Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ law not to be intimidated by anyone.
The Speaker made this known at the second Breakfast Prayer Meeting of the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship in the 8th Parliament on Tuesday, 28th March 2023, on the theme ‘Praying for the nation.’
“….as the Vice President of the USA, Kamala Harris did yesterday, these things should not be tolerated, that is undemocratic. What is democracy? That someone should have to dictate to me what is good and what is bad? Unheard of, because we have decided to devalue ourselves and go begging? Come on, we have more than enough. God has created more than enough for every person, the Bill will be passed.”
“What is democracy? That someone should have to dictate to me what is good and what is bad? Unheard of because we have decided to devalue ourselves and go begging? Come on; we have more than enough. God has created more than enough for every person; the Bill will be passed. What are you afraid of if you have the whole people behind you? If God is with you, who can be against you? If somebody says don’t multiply, how can that person be stronger than God?” he quizzed.
Speaker Bagbin also added that while the Bill is in Parliament, the President has no role to play at all, insisting he cannot control Parliament on this Bill.
“There’s no way he can intervene. That answer he gave, wait until we pass it, and we will direct you to execute it; that is where you come in. In terms of the law, which is part of the policy, we will finalise it; then, the executive has the authority to implement it. Let’s get this clear, while this Bill is before us, he is not in charge; I am in charge,” he stressed.
Mr Bagbin expressed excitement that Pope Francis recently directed Reverend Fathers not to preside over gay or lesbian marriage and stressed the House needs the report.
On his part, Reverend Dr Lawrence Tetteh of the World Miracle Outreach, who gave the benediction, raised concern about President Akufo-Addo’s cold feet on LGBTQ when he met the US Vice President.
According to him, not long ago, the President declared ‘LGBT will not happen under his watch’ but failed to make the same pronouncement to Kamala Harris and instead chose to be politically correct.
He urged the Speaker not to behave like President Akufo-Addo and change his words on the anti-gay Bill when it matters most and when he gets the chance to speak for the nation.
“Our prayer for you today is not just about your health; it is that you do not change your words when we most need you. When you get the chance to make a statement on behalf of our nation, you will not seek to impress anybody by being politically right.”
“We are sad, and I think it is about time Ghanaians make a clear distinction statement that never again would we be taken for granted. From now on, we will be voting on values, and anybody who does not believe in the Ghanaian sentiments and values will not be allowed,” he stressed.
Source: Contributor
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