29th February 2024 9:07:44 AM
2 mins readFormer Director General and Rector of GIMPA, Prof Stephen Adei, has suggested that Ghanaian MPs felt compelled to pass the Anti-Gay Bill to secure their re-election prospects.
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During a recent interview on JoyNews, Professor Adei explained that the MPs feared losing their seats if they did not support the Anti-Gay Bill.
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He asserted that the issue had become politically charged, with constituents expecting their representatives to take a firm stance against perceived moral and cultural threats.
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"I expected it to be passed because the MPs knew that if they don’t pass this Bill, they will all lose their seats because of the Ghanaian sentiments of the bill," Professor Adei stated.
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The Anti-Gay Bill, which was approved by Parliament on February 28, 2024, seeks to proscribe and criminalize lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) activities in Ghana. Under the proposed legislation, individuals engaged in same-sex relations could face a three year jail sentence, while promoters and sponsors of such acts could receive even harsher penalties.
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The bill's passage has sparked controversy both domestically and internationally, with critics condemning it as discriminatory and a violation of human rights.
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However, Professor Adei has indicated that Ghanaian MPs had no other choice than to approve the Bill. He also expressed the confidence that President Akufo-Addo would assent to the Bill.
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“I think he would sign it because the consequences of his not signing it for himself and his party would be incalculable and politicians will always calculate the political consequences and I think that he would sign it,” he said.
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