Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has reaffirmed his opposition to custodial sentences for gay activities while expressing support for the principle behind the anti-gay bill.
Parliament recently approved a bill prescribing a three-to-five-year jail term for those who promote or sponsor LGBTQ activities, with individuals caught in the act facing a minimum of 6 months to a maximum of 3 years in jail.
During discussions on the bill’s clause-by-clause amendment, Mr. Afenyo-Markin emphasized that punitive actions wouldn’t aid in the rehabilitation of offenders.
In an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM with Umaru Sanda Amadu, Mr. Afenyo-Markin highlighted the impracticality of enacting laws entailing custodial sentences in a judiciary climate that favors non-custodial measures.
He stated, “I support aspects of the bill, I oppose aspects of it. I am not against the principle, the object of the bill. In this day and age where the country’s judiciary thinking is towards a non-custodial sentence. We cannot enact a law that seeks to entrench custodial sentences. After all, it is about somebody’s sexuality and we have to be very careful as a country not to be going into emotions when enacting a law.”
He further underscored the empathetic perspective, questioning whether individuals would want their family members subjected to jail terms for their sexual orientation.