LGBTQ+: You Can’t Take This ‘Nonsense’ To Saudi Arabia – Dr. Lawrence Tetteh Blasts International Community
Rev. Dr. Lawrence Tetteh, Founder and President of the Worldwide Miracle Outreach, has shot a caustic reply to the international community for trying to force Ghana to reject the anti-LGBTQ+ bill passed by Parliament.
The bill, which was unanimously approved by members of the Legislative House on Wednesday, February 28, is to ensure proper Ghanaian human sexual rights and family values.
But there is pressure from the international community for the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, not to assent to the bill to make it law.
Responding to the international community on GTV’s morning show, Dr. Lawrence Tetteh dared them to send this “nonsense” to the Arab countries.
“This nonsense cannot be taken to Kuwait, it cannot be taken to Saudi Arabia, it cannot be taken to certain parts of the world. Is it because of poverty that any junk at all should be placed on us?…Our cultural values do not accept homosexuality, our traditional norm does not accept it”, he fumed.
He further bemoaned the pressure on Ghana, asking “why should we impose it on our children? Why do we want to destroy our nation?”
Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill
The bill criminalizes the promotion, advocacy and all acts of homosexuality in Ghana.
Offenders will face a jail term of not less than 6 months to 5 years.
The bill awaits President Nana Addo’s assent and as Ghanaians wait for the President, the international community has implored him to cancel the bill.
International Community On Ghana’s Bill
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk describes it as “deeply harmful” and implores the President not to append his signature to making it a law.
“The bill broadens the scope of criminal sanctions against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transexual and queer people – simply for being who they are – and threatens criminal penalties against perceived allies of LGBTQ+ people.”
“I call for the bill not to become law. I urge the Ghanaian Government to take steps to ensure everyone can live free from violence, stigma and discrimination, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Consensual same-sex conduct should never be criminalized”, Mr. Türk also argued.
Referring to LGBTQ as nonsense, Rev Lawrence Tetteh states that it cannot be taken to certain parts of the world.
pic.twitter.com/kRAmbZBijx— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) February 29, 2024
US ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Evelyn Palmer also says the bill undermines human rights.
“I am saddened because some of the smartest, most creative, most decent people I know are LGBT. The bill Parliament passed takes away not only their basic human rights but those of all Ghanaians because it undermines their constitutional rights to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of the press. It will be bad for public order and public health. If enacted, it will also hurt Ghana’s international reputation and Ghana’s economy”, she wrote on the embassy’s X.
S0urce: Ghmessenger.com
