Anti-LGBTQ+ bill is nonsense; it shouldn’t have been passed – Sam Okudzeto

Sam Okudzeto, a respected member of the Council of State, has vehemently criticized the recently passed anti-LGBTQ+ bill in Ghana, labeling it as unnecessary and a misstep by lawmakers.

During an interview with TV3 on May 8, Okudzeto expressed his disbelief that such a bill would even be considered, let alone passed, arguing it infringes on the private lives of consenting adults.

Okudzeto’s main contention lies in the government’s unwarranted intrusion into the personal freedoms of its citizens.

He questioned the rationale behind monitoring and controlling the intimate activities of individuals, particularly stressing that what two adults do in privacy should have no bearing on their legal status or societal treatment.

According to him, such legislative measures do not align with the fundamental rights to privacy and freedom, which should be upheld in a democratic society.

Further challenging the bill’s proponents, Okudzeto critiqued the clergy’s intense focus on homosexuality, questioning why other sins mentioned in the Bible do not receive similar legislative attention.

He pointed out the hypocrisy in obsessively condemning LGBTQ+ individuals while seemingly turning a blind eye to other pervasive issues like corruption, which he believes are far more detrimental to societal progress and governance.

Okudzeto argued that the nation has far more pressing issues that need addressing, including economic challenges, corruption from grassroots to the upper echelons of power, and general societal well-being.

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He views the fixation on anti-LGBTQ+ measures as a distraction from these more urgent problems that directly impact the economic stability and development of Ghana.

“The fixation on personal moral judgments about who someone loves or lives with should not dictate legislative actions,” Okudzeto remarked. “How does that affect the economy? How does it put food out of my mouth or impact education?”

The anti-LGBTQ+ bill, which criminalizes both the practice and promotion of LGBTQ+ activities, recently passed Parliament unanimously.

However, its progression has been halted as it awaits President Akufo-Addo’s assent, amid challenges to its constitutionality brought forward by two citizens.

These legal challenges underscore the contentious nature of the bill and the divide it has caused within the nation.

This dispute brings to the forefront the ongoing global conversation about human rights, privacy, and the role of government in legislating morality.

As Ghana stands at this crossroads, the decisions made now will likely echo in its legislative and cultural landscape for years to come.

Okudzeto’s bold stance invites a broader dialogue on the priorities and values that should guide legislative processes in Ghana, urging a reconsideration of what truly constitutes national interest and public moral responsibility.

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