Prominent New Patriotic Party (NPP) member Gabby Otchere Darko has once again expressed his disagreement with the jail penalty specified in the anti-gay measure that was just enacted by Parliament.
He emphasized that the bill penalizes homosexuals more severely than, say, a 70-year-old man marrying a 14-year-old girl.
His comments follow the marriage of a 12-year-old girl to a 63-year-old Georgia priest, which caused a great deal of public outrage.
The marriage of Gborbu Wulomo, Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII, and the minor, Naa Ayemoede, took place on March 30, 2024, and has caused controversy and censure among the Ga Dangbe community.
In an X post, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko expressed his support for the Ga priest and the girl’s union, saying, “In Ghana, forcing a minor into marriage carries a maximum 12-month jail sentence, per the Children’s Act 1998 (Act 560).”
“Assented to law, which purports to uphold our family values (child marriage excluded), the offense of “wilful promotion, sponsorship, or support of LGBTQ+ activities” carries a maximum five-year prison penalty. In actuality, a 70-year-old guy who marries a 14-year-old girl gets a lighter punishment than two consenting adults of the same sex who are seen kissing in public.”
