NPP will not tolerate LGBTQ+ activities – John Boadu
Several groups have already presented memoranda to the Committee expressing their positions on the bill.
The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has said that it will not tolerate the activities of LGBTQ+ groups in the country although it will respect all minority rights.
The party’s General Secretary, John Boadu revealed that the party will commit to ensuring that the rights of minorities such as the LGBTQ+ community are not side-stepped by any legislation. It will however not support their actions nor amend the party’s principles to support them.
He made these remarks at the Eastern Regional Delegates Conference held in Kyebi last week.
His comments come in the wake of calls by the general public for the ruling government to clearly state its position on the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021 currently before Parliament.
Earlier, the Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kei Mensah-Bonsu had offered assurances that the leadership of the house will not interfere with the work of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament that is currently reviewing the bill.
Hon. Mensah-Bonsu had revealed that given that the bill is at the consideration stage, only the chairman of the committee can decide to open the proceedings at the committee level to the public.
“Parliament shouldn’t have anything to hide because the issues are out there in the public space. So if the committee decides to have public hearings, I wouldn’t have anything against it. However, our standing orders provide that at committee levels, sittings should be in-camera unless the Chairman otherwise decides.”
“So we want them to have that siren atmosphere, to do that consideration. So if they decide to open it up, I am not sure leadership will stand in their way,” he revealed last Tuesday
Several groups have already presented memoranda to the Committee expressing their positions on the bill. The bill has seen large support from the religious community in the country, although some academics have submitted their memo in opposition to the bill.