A member of the communications team for the ruling National Democratic Congress [NDC], Nii Saka Allotey, has alleged that the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin, is sabotaging President John Dramani Mahama’s government.
Ghana’s parliament has approved a new bill criminalising homosexuality and the promotion of LGBTQ+ activities.
The legislation proposes that identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer be punished by up to three years’ imprisonment.
The bill also introduces a “duty to report” prohibited acts to the police.
On Tuesday, June 2, the Speaker called for further engagement between the Majority and Minority leadership, raising concerns about the process leading to the bill’s passage.
Alban Bagbin said he was surprised the bill was fully passed on Friday, May 29, noting that he had expected Parliament to begin only the consideration stage before proceedings concluded.
He maintained that the bill, given its public sensitivity and the level of national debate it has generated, requires broader consultation and consensus among stakeholders.
Speaking during a courtesy call by the Supreme Court 150th-Anniversary Planning Committee on Thursday, June 11, Bagbin dismissed claims that Parliament is in a stalemate over the bill. According to him, the anti-LGBTQ+ bill can be revisited even after its passage.
Reacting to the Speaker’s pronouncement on Hot 93.9FM‘s Saturday political talk show, Nii Saka Brown candidly alleged that Bagbin is sabotaging the NDC government.
Labelling him a “traitor,” the highly incensed NDC communicator claimed the Speaker of Parliament caused the NDC’s 2016 defeat and wants to repeat history.
“Alban Bagbin is one of the reasons the NDC lost the election in 2016… He criticised Mahama for engaging in ‘family and friends’ politics, which the opposition capitalised on and used as a campaign tool, leading to our defeat. Now, he wants to do the same thing… If he has travelled and his Deputy has supervised the passage of the bill, why is he saying they should have waited for him to return before passing it? Why does he think he is the only sensible person in Parliament?” Nii Saka fumed.
According to Nii Saka, he and other party faithful were unhappy when President John Dramani Mahama endorsed Alban Bagbin to be the Speaker of Parliament.
Watch the video below
