I am not surprised CDD opposes anti-LGBTQ+ bill – Deputy Railway Minister

Deputy Minister of Railway Development, Kwaku Asante-Boateng says he is not surprised that Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) is kicking against the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.

He has revealed that CDD and other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) receive donations from these non-binary and pansexual people, hence the unrelenting effort to stop President Akufo-Addo from signing the bill into law.

The anti-LGBTQ+ bill was unanimously passed by Parliament on February 28, after it had gone through nearly three years of deliberation.

The bill seeks to criminalize the activities of the LGBTQ+ community. It imposes a prison sentence of up to three years for anyone convicted of identifying as LGBTQ+.

Meanwhile, civil society groups have threatened legal action should President Akufo-Addo assent to the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill.

The CSOs are arguing that it might have far-reaching implications for other minority groups.

The Asante Akim South Member of Parliament, speaking on Onua FM’s Etifi Nsem show on Saturday March 3, insisted that the programmes are being funded by these Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people.

”Most programmes and activities of the CSO’s are funded by Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. So, I am not surprised that CDD is criticizing Parliament for passing the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.

And I would not in any way fault them because they receive money from these donors to run their agencies. So, it is impossible for them to support the anti-LGBTQ+ bill and its passage,” he recounted.

Mr. Asante-Boateng told the host, Isaac Ekow JB that Ghana’s culture and tradition frowns upon activities of LGBTQ+ hence the passage of the bill to clamp down on the rights of LGBTQ+ people is in the right direction.