Ghanaian musician and human rights activist, Deborah Vanessa, aka Sister Derby, has claimed that the anti-LGBT+ bill is a politically motivated attempt by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to tarnish the reputation of the current president.
Speaking in an interview aired on March 5, 2024, with YouTuber Kwadwo Sheldon, she implied that attempts by political figures in government to push the bill were not for the well-being of Ghanaians but as a means to sully the reputation of the president with the international community.
She stated that former President John Dramani Mahama would not endorse the bill if voted into power.
“The reason is that the opposition party just wants the current president to look bad. They just want to mess his reputation up and they want to put him in a tight position.
“He (Mahama) wouldn’t have passed this thing if he was in power. I think he would have made it lag,” she said.
Sister Derby backed her claims by pointing out the ‘careful wording’ used by key members
of the opposition NDC.
She claimed that they refuse to directly support the bill but rather express their personal beliefs against same-sex marriage.
“If you observe the comments they’ve made, they haven’t stated that they are for the bill. They are very wise in choosing their words. They are very selective. They go like, ‘My faith doesn’t support same-sex marriage.’
“But nobody’s asking for same-sex marriage. Nobody’s even asking for marriage,” she said.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill in Ghana is a proposed law that has been approved by the Parliament of Ghana and awaits the President’s signature to become law.
It contains several provisions that would impose strict restrictions on LGBT+ rights, including imprisonment for same-sex intercourse, involvement in LGBT+ material distribution, and participation in LGBT+ associations.
The bill has led to a polarized debate, with opponents citing human rights violations and potential discrimination, while supporters argue it’s necessary to maint
ain Ghanaian cultural values.
Source: Ghana Web