Speaker’s comments on homosexuality irresponsible – Human Rights Activist

A researcher at Human Rights Watch, Wendy Isaack has criticized the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, for being politically irresponsible in his comments on homosexuality last year.

According to her, Prof. Oquaye should have respected the Ghanaian constitution in that regard since he was functioning as the Speaker of Parliament when he made those comments.

“Some of the statements that the Speaker of Parliament made last year reflected in the report. The publication of the report and the inclusion of that recommendation is only the beginning. And it is work that needs to be done domestically by human rights activists. I think politically it is irresponsible because he is functioning as the Speaker of Parliament. He is obliged to respect the Ghanaian constitution and Ghanaian laws,” the Human Rights activist argued.

She also called for the amendment of certain provisions in the Constitution as well as a section in the Criminal Offences Act so as to protect and prohibit violence against the LGBT community in Ghana.

“What we are saying as human rights defenders is there are certain aspects of the law which can be amended first of all, the repeal of that section in the Criminal Offences Act and certain amendments to provisions in the constitution or other laws in the country which can enhance the protection of the LGBT people or at least prohibit various forms of violence,” Wendy pleaded.

Last year, the Speaker of Parliament disclosed that Ghana will not decriminalize homosexuality, following demands by Amnesty International, a Human Rights group, to respect the rights of people within the LGBT community.

The Speaker argued that recognizing the rights of homosexuals could lead to bestiality and incest being recognized in future.