Speaker of the Parliament has called for an amendment of the constitution to completely ban homosexuality in Ghana.
It is a fact known by all that Ghana’s “Akwaaba” is for all but homosexuals and other sorts of sexual deviants. However, there are still no specific stringent laws with which the practice seriously frowned upon in the Ghanaian society is judged in the criminal courts.
Although the Ghanaian Criminal Code, Article 104 of Chapter 6 defines homosexuality as an “unnatural carnal knowledge”, Ghana gay laws still appears to be among those classified as silent.
Recently, Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye called for an amendment of Ghana’s constitution to completely ban homosexuality in Ghana and make it strictly punishable by law. The speaker made this call while speaking during a courtesy call by the Royal House Chapel led by its founder Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah.
According to Prof. Oquaye, current provisions by the constitution are not clear on the illegality of the practice. The Speaker who doubles as a pastor described the act as an abomination; pointing out that it is against the country’s culture and therefore is unacceptable.
“It is unfortunate that people have become so liberal that they will want to liberalise Christianity…even priests are approving of homosexuality and allowing a man and a man [to] marry, a woman and a woman [to] marry and these are manifest abominations,” Speaker Oquaye said.
The Speaker then said that the Parliament of Ghana will revise the necessary laws to ban homosexuality in Ghana.
In Ghana currently, sexual relationship between people of the same sex attract not more than a 3-year jail sentence in a situation where the act is performed with the consent of involved parties. But when it is done without consent, it is punishable by 5-25 years imprisonment.
Prof. Oquaye’s recent call is however, not he first time the issue of providing for specific Ghana gay laws is being raised. Back in 2012, there were calls on the Constitution Review Committee (CRC) to rule on Ghana’s stand on legalising same sex marriage. However, the move was deferred on the grounds of the issue not being worthy of discussion or receiving reactions in a progressive state such as Ghana.
Also in 2015, after the United States officially legalised same sex marriage, popular Ghanaian traditional priest, Kwaku Bonsam had called on former president Mahama to break the silence on Ghana’s stand on the issue of gay rights. But the call was as well ignored.
Research reveal that homosexuality is criminal in about 77 countries of the world. In these countries, anybody caught in sexual relationship with a person of the same sex faces the law. The sentence ranges from some years imprisonment, life jail to even execution.
Homosexuality is banned in almost all Islamic states, where Sharia law stipulates punishment by death for the act. Some places where homosexuaity attracts a death penalty include; Sudan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Mauritania, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Qatar, UAE, parts of Nigeria, parts of Somalia, parts of Syria and parts of Iraq.
On the other hand, gays are seen just like every other human being in some countries. However, the legality of homosexuality varies from country to country. While some just ignore the gays, but without institutional sing their unions, others go head to approve of the relations while also making provisions for their protection against any form of discrimination.
Also see: South African Gay Activists Enraged by Heward-Mills Anti-Gay Sermon
In fact, in countries like he United States, some parts of the United Kingdom and even South Africa, you will actually be made to face the law by just giving a gay person an unfriendly look – it’s as bad as that!
Some prominent persons have paid great prizes for openly condemning homosexuality based on the teachings of the scriptures. A good example is popular Filipino boxer, Manny Pacquoia who lost millions of twitter followers as well as his Nike contract after preaching against being gay.
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