Anti-LGBTQ+bill is unnecessary; we oppose it –Prof Audrey Gadzekpo

Board Chair of CDD – Ghana, Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, says the anti-LGBTQ+ bill was unnecessary as some of the issues it seeks to tackle are already catered for in various criminal laws.

Parliament on Wednesday, passed the bill on Human Sexual Rights and Family Values also known as the anti-LGBTQ bill.

The bill proscribes LGBT activities and criminalizes its promotion, advocacy and funding.

Persons caught in the act would be liable to a 6 month to 3 year jail term with promoters and sponsors of the act also handed down with a jail term of between 3 and 5 years.

In an interview on GBC’s Breakfast Show and monitored by RGG News, Prof. Gadzekpo said on the issue of homosexuality, portions of the criminal code already address it and therefore did not understand the need to propose another bill to punish people believed to be involved in the act.

“We even already have the act that is interpreted as homosexuality. That act which says unnatural carnal knowledge – the criminal code already has it.”

“So, if we don’t want people to be having sex in unnatural ways including oral sex which is in this bill then there is already a law in our criminal code inherited from our colonial masters who introduced it. So, exactly what is the issue?,” she asked?

She added that most of the parliamentarians were coerced into supporting the bill for fear of losing their seats in the upcoming general election.

She also stated their commitment to maintain pressure on President Akufo-Addo, urging him to reject the recently passed anti-LGBTQ+ bill.

“I don’t know what the President is thinking now but what I know is that others and I will put pressure on the President not to assent to the bill”, she said.