Minority leader in Parliament Mr Haruna Iddrisu has hailed the courage of the Coalition of MPs against LGBTQ+ and the leadership they have provided so far on the matter.
The Coalition, he said, has demonstrated MPs do not represent themselves but represent the electorate and exercise all mandate in accord with the aspirations and wishes of the sovereign will of the people of Ghana.
He pointed that MPs as the representatives of people of Ghana have an obligation to protect the moral fibre of the Ghanaian society to promote the cohesion and unity of the state.
“And more importantly to preserve the time-tested cultural practices and beliefs that has kept us together as one country,” he said.
The Minority leader offered the commendation when he addressed the Parliamentary Press Corps last Friday to espouse the position of his side on the Proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values Bill, 2021.
The eight MPs who sponsored the Bill are Sam Nartey George (MP, Ningo Prampram), Emmanuel Bedzrah (MP, Ho West) Della Adjoa Sowah (MP, Kpando), John Ntim Fordjour (MP, Assin South) – the sole NPP MP sponsoring the Bill.
The remaining sponsors are Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini (MP, Tamale North), Helen Adjoa Ntoso (MP, Krachi West), Rita Naa Odoley Sowah (MP, La Dadekotopon) and Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor (MP, South Dayi).
Mr. Iddrisu averred that those who argued LGBTQ+ is a matter of human rights need to be reminded that when in 1960, Section 104 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 was passed, no such right was given.
“Where were those rights? So if you go back to memory lane as representatives of the people, Ghana has agreed to punish any person involved in having unnatural carnal knowledge with another.
“Specifically section 104 of the Criminal Offences 1960, Act 29 prohibits us from having unnatural carnal knowledge.
“There are those who are overstretching those rights to absurdity, indeed incredible absurdity.
“May I ask, when they say that they are promoting those rights. Is it to be placed under the UN Charter adopted in1945? Is it to be placed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted in 1948?
“Is it to be put in the context of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights entered into force in 1976; or the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights entered into force in 1976,” he quizzed.
He averred that this is one of the critical moments in history where certain issues of significance put asunder the collective unity of the people of a nation and urged Parliament to stand the litmus test.
The Minority Leader praised the members for holding high the moral flack of the country and pledged the support of the House to ensure the right thing is done by the Ghanaian people.
