Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, chairman of Parliament's Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, has warned members of the LGBTQ+ community against engaging in behaviors that may enrage Ghanaians.
He claims that their recent purported acts of constructing billboards promoting their activities have sparked outrage and anxiety among the public, particularly in light of the contentious Anti-LGBTQ law currently being debated in Parliament.
"I believe they are only trying to enrage people." They must stop if they can hear me, if they did it [erected the billboard on the Accra-Tema highway]. In fact, I would encourage them to avoid getting people furious in Ghana.
"The community as a whole should be alerted." Why should they be [carrying out] behaviors that are likely to enrage people? Ghana is a country in Africa. Christians and Muslims make up the majority of the group. Even though there are atheists, they make up a small percentage of the population; hence, doing so inflames tension and emotions," he told JoyNews' Manuel Koranteng in an interview on Sunday, June 12.
The sponsors of the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill have given the Inspector General of Police a 24-hour deadline to remove billboards that encourage gay behavior around Accra.
The massive billboards were put on key highways around the country in honor of LGBT pride month, which occurs every June.
One of the billboards, which could be seen near the end of the Tema-Accra bound side of the highway, was painted in the group's rainbow colors and had an inscription encouraging their activities.
Later, the billboard was taken down.
On this point, Mr Anyimadu-Antwi urged members of the LGBTQ community to be calm as Parliament reviews the Bill.
He did, however, say that the perception that the Committee is delaying the Bill's passage is sad and incorrect. "Actually, I'm not sure what the sign is; I'm not sure what the sign means, but if it is a sign of the LGBTQ community, I believe they should be cautioned since their activities have resulted in this contentious measure being placed before Parliament."
"What I'm saying is that if you've gone to get an office and Ghanaian society has frowned upon it and has actually warned you and closed the office down, and if it's true that this sign emanates from them, then you go further to erect a billboard when there's an intended Bill that aims to put you in jail if you're caught," he stressed.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0