The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin, has slammed the government, accusing it of having no interest in dealing with LGBTQI+ and illegal mining issues.
According to him, while in opposition, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) used these two issues as political capital, attacking the previous government, and promised to deal with them if granted the opportunity to govern.
However, the minority leader says the government has refused to attach any urgency to these issues and is rather focusing on a bill about public holidays.
He referenced the viral video of South African gay couple Lue and Rue to support his argument, saying that the two came to express their disgusting act under a monument representing our independence.
He accused the government of deliberately avoiding the issue despite the strong attacks on the previous president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
“The NDC used the anti-LGBTQ bill as a campaign tool. They made strong public declarations in support of its passage. They staged press conferences and issued statements and gave Ghanaian people every assurance that they were committed to defending family values and enacting the bill into law.”
He stated that the loudest people who spoke passionately about the anti-gay bill came from the side of the NDC, and yet today, when they have the power and mandate to act, they have gone mute without any clear guidelines.
On the issue of galamsey, he said the government’s inaction is worsening the crisis.
He pointed out that the NDC campaigned on strong action against the menace but has yet to introduce comprehensive legislation or take decisive action.
“The government is more interested in amending the Holidays Act than tackling the Galamsey crisis that is ravaging our environment,” Hon. Afenyo-Markin said.
He expressed concern over the negative impact of illegal mining on the environment, including the pollution of rivers and destruction of forests, and accused the government of failing to fulfil campaign promises.
