The Executive Director of Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Prof H. K Prempeh has said that Ghana’s Anti LGBTQ+ Bill is one of the most extremist he has ever seen.

According to him, a Bill which restricts any form of advocacy on LGBTQ and forbids a campaign for an amendment in the Bill, saying such acts amount to a criminal offence liable to punishment is not the best.

“When you look at the Bill, how can you say that you’ve made a law and even those who advocate a change in the law have run foul of the law,” he said.

He added that the same way other legislators have been given the right to advocate for the Bill, he believes that the same should be done for proponents of LGBTQ who are also for a change in the Bill.

“The law is there, it changes all the time so in the same way that Mr Sam George and others can advocate for a Bill to change the state of the law on natural canal knowledge, how can you say that nobody else, in other words basically you’ve tied the hands of opponents of the Bill to say that even if you show solidarity to gay people and advocate on their behalf, you have committed a criminal offence.” he said.

Speaking at a webinar series organised by the Mandela Washington Fellowship Association of Ghana, he noted that by considering such an “extremist” Bill, the country is treading on a “slippery slope” and it is something that has to be averted.

He noted that he has come across an Anti LGBTQ+ legislation in Russia and Hungary “but it’s not even nearly as extremist as this one. This is the most extreme I have seen.”

Highlighting portions of the Bill, which bans people from advocating for gay practices to be legalised, the Executive Director said it infringes on Freedom of Speech and the right to join any association as stated in the supreme laws of the land.

“We should be cautious because the moment a Bill as extremist as this, is passed, it opens the door to other things. Because this is the most radical it can get, and if it passes, it means we can legislate a lot of other things.

“So for me, this slid down a slippery slope is something we have to avert by all means. As for passing in Parliament, it may well pass, whether or not the President will sign the Bill into law, it is doubtful,” he stated.

He further noted that the Bill will face challenges in the judicial system due to some constitutional gaps. And even if he were to sign it into law, I think the judicial challenge will follow.

“It might even go beyond Ghana’s courts. It could go to regional courts because I think this is a very extreme display of intolerance,” he stated.