Ghana intends to pass its family values act regardless of what the US says, Speaker of the Parliament Alban Bagbin has told lawmakers. He was speaking in response to remarks by US Vice President Kamala Harris on her African tour in Ghana this week, that LGBT rights were a human rights issue.
Bagbin dismissed Harris’ remarks. \u201cThese things should not be tolerated. That is undemocratic! What is democracy? That somebody else would have to dictate to me, as to what is good and what is bad? Unheard of!\u201d Bagbin said on Tuesday, at a meeting with legislators to discuss the proposed \u2018Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values\u2019 bill.
In a joint press conference with President Nana Akufo-Addo on Monday, Harris did not directly address the bill, but affirmed that LGBT rights were \u201can issue that we consider to be a human rights issue, and that will not change.\u201d
Last week, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters at the White House that LGBT rights were \u201csomething that\u2019s a core part of our foreign policy, and it will remain so.\u201d
Bagbin told the Ghanaian lawmakers that they \u201cneed to legislate\u201d and should not fear outside pressure. \u201cDon\u2019t be intimidated by any person,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat are you afraid of, if you have the whole people behind you? If God is with you, who can be against you?\u201d
Last week, the parliament in Uganda approved a law that made \u201caggravated homosexuality\u201d punishable by death, and \u201crecruitment, promotion and funding\u201d of homosexual \u201cactivities\u201d with up to life in prison.
Ghana\u2019s proposal would make same-sex intercourse a second-degree felony, punishable by three to five years in prison, with those promoting activities banned under the bill facing five to ten years behind bars. \u201cThe bill will be passed,\u201d Bagbin told the lawmakers. He also reminded President Akufo-Addo that his job was to execute the laws, not to legislate himself.
\u201cThis is a word to his excellency the president \u2013 there is no way he can intervene,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s get this clear: Once this bill is before here, he is not in charge. I am in charge.\u201d
Harris arrived in Accra on Sunday evening, on the first leg of the trip that would take her to Tanzania and Zambia as well. The White House said her visit would focus on democracy, climate change, security, the economy, and the conflict in Ukraine. The US has also pledged $100 million in aid for Ghana and nearby Benin, Togo, Guinea and Cote d\u2019Ivoire<\/p>\n\n\n\n