Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, has objected to the imprisonment of anyone found guilty of engaging in LGBTQ+ activities.
Parliament approved a three-to-five-year jail term for culprits on Thursday, February 8.
Accordingly, those found guilty of the act will receive a minimum sentence of six months and a maximum sentence of three years. The penalty for those who knowingly support or encourage LGBTQ activities is three to five years in prison.
“The punitive action would not aid in the rehabilitation of the culprit,” Mr. Afenyo-Markin said during a clause-by-clause revision of the bill on the promotion of proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values.
The legislator for the Effutu constituency bemoaned the condition of the country’s jails and contended that they would not offer the necessary rehabilitation to those who had violated the law.
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“It is my contention that given the state of our prisons, a custodial sentence will not lead to the rehabilitation of the offender if he is convicted; it cannot be an option. If indeed we are promoting Ghanaian family values, then our Ghanaian family values will not entail the consequence of those who breach them being destroyed in society,” said Afenyo-Markin.
On his part, the lead proponent of the anti-gay bill and MP for Ningo Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, also explained that “what created the confusion was the establishment of advocacy for the promotion of the activities; that is what Ghanaians are against. Nobody is interested in what you do in your bedroom. And so, the punishment for one caught in the act is to be a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 3 years.”
“However, for anyone engaging in wilful promotion, sponsorship, or support of the agenda, the punitive measure for that is a minimum of 3 years, a maximum of 5 years,” he added.