Ghana Roundup: Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, secessionists imprisoned, teachers deployed
President speaks ahead of anti-LGBTQ Bill assent
President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said that the country will maintain its record on human rights observance and attachment to the rule of law. His comments come following the passage of the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill by parliament that seeks to criminalise activities of persons belonging to the group among others. According to him, the Bill which is yet to reach his desk for assent will not compromise the country’s stance on human rights observance. "I want to assure you that no such backsliding will be contemplated or occasioned. I think it will serve little purpose to go, at this stage, into the details of the origin of this proposed law, which is yet to reach my desk," he was quoted by Graphic at the New Year Greetings Diplomatic Reception at the Peduase Presidential Retreat in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
Secessionists imprisoned
Four members of a secessionist group, Western Togoland in Ghana have been sentenced to a total of 17 years after allegations of seeking to break two major regions, Volta and Oti regions away from the country. During the case which was heard on March 5 at the Accra High Court, Presiding Judge, Maame Ekue Yanzuh also ruled that the four, Michael Kwabla also known as Togbe Yesu, Nene Kwaku Agblorm, WO1 Emmanuel Hayford Afedo, and Lance Corporal Abednego Dzreke Mawuena will pay fines to a total of 26,400 Ghana cedis, according to local news outlet 3news.
Failed Guinness World Record attempt
Ghanaian Chef Failatu Abdul Razak’s longest cooking marathon attempt has failed as announced by the Guinness World Records. This is the second failure of a Ghanaian in the competition within two weeks. Earlier, Afua Asantewaa who attempted a singathon with the GWR also failed. The Guinness team in a statement cited violation of Chef Faila’s rest-break rules during the cook-a-thon as the basis for her disqualification, GhanaWeb reports. The current record for the longest cooking marathon remains with Irish Chef Alan Fisher who attained 119 hours of nonstop cooking in Matsue, Shimane Japan from September 28 to October 3, 2023.
Petition against anti-LGBTQ Bill
A private legal practitioner, Richard Dela Sky has petitioned the Supreme Court to declare the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill known as the anti-LGBTQ Bill null, void, and of no effect, Citinewsroom reports. According to Sky, the passage of the Bill violates Article 33 (5) of the country’s 1992 Constitution as well as some provisions in Articles 12(1) and (2), 15(1), 17(1) and (2), 18(2), and 21(1) (a) (b) (d) and (e) of the Constitution. He also argues that the parts of the Bill infringe on the fundamental human rights and freedoms guaranteed to every Ghanaian by the Constitution. The Bill was passed by Ghana’s Parliament on February 28, 2024.
Teachers deployed for National Service
The National Service Scheme (NSS) in Ghana has deployed 13,516 trained teachers from Colleges of Education across the country to undertake their one-year mandatory national service in basic and second-cycle schools. In an announcement by the Scheme on March 4, they indicated that all service personnel in this category must check their placements on the NSS website Registration is set to start on March 8, 2024, at all centres, Myjoyonline reports.
