In a recent parliamentary session, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the Communications Minister and Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West, expressed her views on the ongoing discussions surrounding the anti-LGBTQI bill. She emphasized that the inclusion of the criminalization of sex toys in the bill raises concerns, particularly as it may inadvertently impact heterosexual couples who use such tools to enhance their intimate experiences.
According to the proposed clause 3(c) in the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021, sexual intercourse between a person and an inanimate object is prohibited. Owusu-Ekuful, speaking on the parliamentary floor, urged clarity on whether the bill is solely targeting the LGBTQI community or extends to all individuals.
She highlighted the potential unintended consequences of clause 3(c), stating, “The proposed amendment in 3(c) may create unintended consequences because sexual intercourse between a person and an inanimate object would necessarily include the use of aids that couples, especially heterosexual couples, employ to enhance their intimate experiences.”
Owusu-Ekuful urged caution, suggesting that if the intention is to criminalize the use of sex toys, it should be made explicit, acknowledging that it might affect not only the LGBTQI community but also heterosexual couples.
The proposed Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, if enacted, would criminalize identifying as gay, transgender, or queer, carrying a maximum prison sentence of five years. The parliamentary decision on this bill is expected to provide resolution to the ongoing national debate regarding the legal status of LGBTQI+ individuals in Ghana.
