Lead advocate for the National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values has raised concerns over reported exemptions for certain professional groups under the newly passed Anti-LGBTQ+ bill, questioning the legal logic behind such provisions.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Moses Foh-Amoaning said he finds claims that lawyers, journalists, and medical professionals have been exempted from the law difficult to understand.
He argued that such exemptions appear inconsistent with how the legal and professional system works, stressing that lawyers, for instance, are constitutionally mandated to defend individuals regardless of the crime involved.
“I’ve heard that lawyers, in the line of duty, have been exempted. That is laughable. Lawyers defend murderers and rapists, so what exactly are they being exempted from?” he questioned.
He further added that journalism and medical practice also involve engagement with sensitive and complex issues, including crime reporting and healthcare interventions, and therefore questioned the basis of excluding such professions.
“Journalists report on crime all the time. Doctors also deal with counselling and medical procedures. So what do they mean by exemptions?” he asked.
Mr. Foh-Amoaning also referenced medical practices related to gender identity, arguing that there is already an established medical framework in some jurisdictions involving counselling and pharmaceutical interventions such as puberty blockers.
He insisted that lawmakers must ensure clarity in the final legal text and questioned whether the Speaker or Parliament could revisit a bill after passage if inconsistencies are identified.
The comments come in the wake of heated public debate following the passage of Ghana’s Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, which has sparked discussion over several amendments made.
The amended version exempts legal practitioners from sanctions for providing legal representation or advice to persons identified as LGBTQ+. Journalists and media organisations reporting on LGBTQ+ issues as part of their professional duties are also protected under the revised law.
Additionally, medical professionals offering surgical, psychological, counselling, or related healthcare services are exempt from punishment under the Bill.
However, Mr. Foh-Amoaning maintain that clarity in enforcement and scope will be crucial to the law’s implementation, particularly regarding how professional duties intersect with its provisions.
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