Connect with us

Latest News

Ghana Considers Law To Punish Gay Sex

Published

on

Ghana Considers Law To Punish Gay Sex

A new law that would make it illegal to be gay or to advocate for gay rights is being worked on in Ghana.

The family values bill is currently before the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, which said it had received more than 150 memoranda from individuals, groups and faith-based organisations on the bill.

Ghana’s parliament on Thursday held the first public hearing on the bill.

The committee is expected to hear 10 petitions each week in a series of public sessions before the bill is put to a vote, deputy majority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, said.

READ ALSO: Doyin Okupe’s Son Ends Relationship With Boyfriend

Gay sex is already punishable by prison time in Ghana, but no one has been prosecuted in years.

The new bill would go much further, criminalising the promotion and funding of LGBT+ activities as well as public displays of affection, cross-dressing and more.

Ghana’s speaker of parliament, Alban Bagbin, pledged in his opening address last month that parliament would pass the bill into law “at the earliest possible time”.

U.N. human rights experts have urged lawmakers to reject it, saying it would establish a system of state-sponsored discrimination and violence against sexual minorities.

LGBT+ rights groups in Ghana said they have seen a spike in homophobic attacks since the draft law was introduced in August.

Arbitrary arrests, blackmail and evictions have more than doubled since then, with people targeted if they are suspected of being gay, said Danny Bediako, director of the human rights organisation Rightify Ghana.

“Our greatest worry is the health and safety of our community members,” he told Reuters, adding that “I have never seen so many people who want to leave the country.”

The bill has been promoted by conservative Christian groups in Ghana, which has become a hot spot for the debate on LGBT+ rights in Africa.

The U.S.-based World Congress of Families (WCF), a group that works to advance anti-gay laws and policies around the world, held a major regional conference in Ghana’s capital Accra in 2019.

(Reuters/NAN)

 

Read more authentic news on our social media platforms 

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Latest News

BREAKING: Tinubu Gives Hint On Tax Reform Bill, Says No Regret Over Fuel Subsidy Removal

Published

on

By John Michael Ojo

President Bola Tinubu on Monday night, maintained that there is no going back on the current tax reform bill which is before the National Assembly for consideration.

The former Lagos State Governor, stated this in a nationwide broadcast while addressing Nigerians during his first presidential media chat monitored by NEW TIMES.

Despite the misfeeling being expressed by national leaders particularly those from the Northern part of the country over the bill, President Tinubu maintained that the reform was in accordance with his RENEW HOPE mantra which seeks to favour the poor.

He added that the responsibility of a true leader is doing what is necessary at the right time

According to President Tinubu, “The tax reforms are here to stay. The reform is pro-poor and it is to widen the tax net, so we can have more people paying.

“The hallmark of a good leader is the ability to do what you have to do at the time it ought to be done.”

He said, “We are spending our future. We are spending our generation’s fortunes. We are not investing. We are just deceiving ourselves.

“Why should you have expenditures when you don’t have revenues?

The President also disclosed that despite the economic hardship being faced by Nigerians as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy, he has no regrets over his actions.

Tinubu said his actions became mandatory in order to save the nation from impending doom.

“I don’t have any regret in removing the fuel subsidy. We cannot spend our generation investment.

”We have no choice. Otherwise, we are headed for the slippery slope… financial disaster, not just for us but our children.

While addressing the recent palliative stampedes in Oyo, Anambra and Abuja which claimed nearly 50 lives with several others sustaining various level of injury, Tinubu blamed the organizer of the events for poor management.

Tinubu said, “It is very sad that people are not well organised. We just have to be disciplined. My condolences to those who lost their family members,” he said.

Continue Reading

Latest News

BREAKING: President Tinubu To Address Nigerians Tonight

Published

on

Why I Stopped Using Social Media - Tinubu

By John Michael Ojo

Ahead of this year’s Christmas celebration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Monday address Nigerians in a media chat.

This was made known in a statement by the spokesperson to the president, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed that the media chat will hold by 9pm.

Onanuga added that this will be the first presidential media chat since Tinubu assumed office in 2023.

“The first presidential media chat with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be broadcast at 9 pm on Monday, December 23, on the Nigerian Television Authority and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria.

“All television and radio stations are requested to hook up to the broadcast,” he stated.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Black Saturday As 10 Confirmed Dead, Others Injured In Abuja Church Stampede

Published

on

By John Michael Ojo

No less than ten individuals have been confirmed dead following a stampede which took place in an event organized by Holy Trinity Catholic Church, situated in the Maitama area of Abuja on Saturday morning.

It was stated that the church had intended to distribute rice as palliative to the people during the event before the tragedic incident took place.

While confirming the development, in a statement signed by the Abuja Police Command Force Spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the Command said ten individuals died, while eight others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

The statement reads: “This tragic event, which happened at about 6:30 am, led to a stampede that claimed the lives of ten (10) individuals, including four (4) children, and left eight (8) others with varying degrees of injuries. Four (4) of the injured have been treated and discharged, while the remaining victims are receiving medical care.

‘’To prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future, the Command hereby directs that all organizations, religious bodies, groups, or individuals planning any public event, charitable activity, or large gathering in the FCT must notify the Police Command in advance. This will allow the deployment of adequate security measures to ensure public safety and prevent avoidable tragedies.

“Failure to comply with this directive will result in the organizers being held liable for any incident or loss of life resulting from their negligence.

’The FCT Police Command remains committed to safeguarding lives and property in the Territory. Members of the public are encouraged to collaborate with the Police by adhering to these guidelines and promptly reporting emergencies through the FCT Control Room via 0803 200 3913 or 0806 032 1234”

In a similar vein, an unspecified number of people mostly woman have reportedly lost their lives in Okija community of Anambra state in a stampede.

New Times gathered that the stampede was said to have occurred on Saturday morning during an event for the distribution of rice organized by Obi Jackson Foundation.

Saturday’s stampede comes barely 72 hours after a similar occurrence took place in a funfair event organized by a former queen of Ooni of Ife in Ibadan, Oyo State capital where nearly 40 children have been confirmed dead by the state authorities.

The repeated stampede is a testament to the current economic hardship being faced by the masses as a result of the economic policies of President Tinubu in recent times.

Continue Reading

Top Stories