The head of legal services at the National Communications Authority (NCA) says alleged denial of visas to MPs by some embassies should push them to work towards making the country self-sufficient.
According to Dr Poku Adusei, such an action against the legislators pushing for an anti-LGBTQ+ Bill should serve as a wake-up call to develop the country.
"I don’t know the other motivations that went into their decision-making process, but you know that there is a lot of subjectivity in how they couch these refusals.
"But it tells you that you should also think about working in such a way that you develop your state and stay in your country," he told the host of Newsfile, Samson Lardy Anyenini, on Saturday.
His comments come after some embassies reportedly denied visas to some legislators, particularly those advocating for the passage of the Proper Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021, also known as the anti-LGBT Bill.
Last week, Tamale North MP Alhassan Suhuyini announced that he had been prevented from entering the Netherlands on fears that he would not return to Ghana.
A senior member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) based in the United States, Arthur Kobina Kennedy, has alleged that some MPs have been denied visas to travel abroad following the introduction of the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill to Parliament.
In a piece titled: ‘Tolerance and the Debate about Homosexuality in Ghana’, he stated that the strong support the bill enjoys from the religious groups has been met with stiff opposition from intellectuals, government officials, and the diplomatic corps who fear the bill would endanger the lives of LGBT community members.
“Indeed, I wish, in the words of the sages, we had ‘allowed sleeping dogs to lie’. The homosexual community, in my view, were doing fine, in their private spaces, subject to the protections of the law accorded to all citizens,” he said.
Responding to this, Dr Poku Adusei said the situation “tells us that we should think about working in such a way that we develop our state and stay in our country.”
Also speaking on the show on Saturday, Economist and Associate Professor with the Institute of Statistical and Social Research (ISSER), Prof Charles Godfred Ackah, expressed distaste for the development.
He described the situation as an indication of cultural imperialism.
“After being a sovereign nation and having our independence, we cannot go to the UK from Ghana and ask them to legalise polygamy. Why will somebody want to use all tactics to force it upon us?... Western civilisations want to now impose that as a culture on the whole world, and I will be surprised that Ghanaians will support that kind of imperialism,” he said.
Latest Stories
-
Former SWAG President Ackah passes on
1 hour -
Maison Yusif unveils 2 new fragrances, opens flagship store in Accra
1 hour -
GOC, NSA commemorate International Olympic Day in Accra
1 hour -
Kalsoume Sinare, Namoale, 13 others land ambassadorial roles under Mahama
2 hours -
Photos: President Mahama arrives in Abuja for 67th ECOWAS Heads of State Summit
2 hours -
First batch of pilgrims from Mecca arrives in Tamale
2 hours -
Mahama appoints 15 new Ambassadors and High Commissioners
2 hours -
2 killed, three injured in tipper truck-taxi crash on Ntotroso-Kenyasi road
2 hours -
Heavy rain caused building collapse at Kotokuraba’s London Bridge area – Police
3 hours -
If religion was a factor, I would’ve stepped aside – Dr Bawumia warns against tribal politics in NPP
3 hours -
Okada rider survives brutal machete attack in Boinso, suspect arrested
3 hours -
Photos: Asantehene graces son’s graduation at DPS International
5 hours -
Deputy Works and Housing Minister visits Ecobank-JoyNews Habitat Fair Clinic
5 hours -
Abdul Bashiru Hussein: The unseen spark lighting up Ghana’s football future
5 hours -
2025 FIFA Club World Cup: Is European supremacy a myth?
5 hours