The Executive Director of the Center for Democratic Development (CDD), Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, has defended the organisation’s opposition to the Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Value Bill, commonly referred to as the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.
Professor Prempeh argued that the bill contravenes the provisions of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and should not be tolerated.
He emphasised that the proposed legislation threatens to violate the fundamental human rights of individuals belonging to minority groups.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, March 9, Professor Prempeh urged the President to refrain from signing the bill into law.
“When you take the bill as a whole, we believe it offends the constitution because it violates one of the constitutional provisions designed to safeguard some separation of powers between what kind of bill the executive may propose and what can of bill parliament through a private member’s bill may propose.”
“So, article 108 states that unless a bill is introduced by or on behalf of the President, Parliament shall not proceed on it if it has some fiscal effects,” he said.
The law professor believes the proponents of the bill are trying to criminalize an identity they don’t fully comprehend.
According to him, criminal laws should attack acts rather than identity, but in this case, this bill attacks the identity of a certain minority group.
Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh further stated that CDD-Ghana will persist in advocating for a repeal if President Akufo-Addo decides to sign the bill into law.
“Assuming that this bill passes, we will continue to advocate for it to be repealed. So, we will continue to advocate against,” he added.
On February 28, 2024, Parliament endorsed a bill criminalizing LGBTQ activities and prohibiting their promotion, advocacy, and financial support.
According to the legislation, individuals found guilty of engaging in such acts could be sentenced to imprisonment for 6 months to 3 years, while those involved in promoting or financing such activities could face imprisonment ranging from 3 to 5 years.
The approval of the bill has triggered a backlash from numerous stakeholders, including Virginia Evelyn Palmer, the Ambassador of the United States to Ghana.
Nevertheless, CDD-Ghana has vehemently opposed the bill’s enactment into law.
