Posted in General News

Video: Gay office in Kwabenya closed down by Police

An office in Kwabenya, a suburb of Accra which was being operated by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexuals, Transgender and Queer Individuals (LGBTQI) in Kwabenya has been closed down by the Police on Wednesday February 24.

TV3’s Stanley Nii Blewu who witnessed the closure of the office reported that the land lord had said the occupants were no longer using the office for the original purpose of which they rented it.

This comes after Director of LGBTQI+ Rights in Ghana, Alex Kofi Donkor, has asked Ghanaians to look at issues relating to LGBTQI, as human right issues.

He told TV3’s Miriam Osei Agyemang on the Mid day news on Friday February 19 that persons who are identified as LGBTQI are verbally and physically attacked in the country

This, he said, must stop because they have fundamental human rights that must be respected and protected by the society.

Explaining the reasons behind the setup of an LGBTQI office in Ghana, he said “We created an office space where we talk about issues which affect us as community and ways in which we can resolve the issues.

Let me quickly say in this country a lot of times we do experience a lot of violence and abuse that are perpetuated towards people who are identified as LGBTQI or people who are perceived as LGBTQI persons.

“When these violence are perpetuated against such people it goes unattended to, people do that with impunity.”

Source:3News

Posted in General News

China congratulates speaker Bagbin on his Assumption of office

The Charge D Áffaires of the Chinese Embassy, Zhu Jing has delivered a congratulatory message from Chairman Of The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China H.E LI Zhanshu, and the Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference of the People’s Republic of China H.E WANG Yang, to the Speaker of the 8th Parliament, the Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin on being elected as Speaker of the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic.

Mr. Jing was at the head of a three member delegation from the Chinese Embassy here in Accra. He described Speaker Bagbin as a long-time friend of China and expressed the hope that the Legislatures of Ghana and China will continue to collaborate closely for the mutual benefits of their two countries.

The MP for North Tongu and former Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa referred to the close relations between the Parliament of Ghana and China during the 7th Parliament where China sponsored a number of Training And Knowledge Exchange Programmes for the Members which helped in improving the skills of Members and expressed the hope that the Members of the 8th Parliament will have similar opportunities for interactions. He also commended China for being the first country to offer Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) and financial assistance to Ghana at the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic.

Speaker Bagbin thanked China for the kind considerations and said China was always a close friend of Ghana and is currently one of Ghana’s best friends in the world, adding that Ghana intends to maintain that relationship. He also made reference to the COVID 19 and said it was a global pandemic which needs a global solution and called on world countries to treat it as such.

Speaker Bagbin said his aim is to strengthen the capacity of Members and Staff of Parliament, adding that he intends to superintend over a Parliament with a decentralised Speakership. He expressed the belief that for Parliament to develop and be at par with the Executive, it must have all its sections and systems working effectively and that is what he hopes to achieve.