Minister-designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Lariba Zuweira Abudu has rejected homosexualism and related activities.
According to her, the laws and culture of Ghana are opposed to LGBTQ and makes the activity illegal until, as a country, it is decided otherwise.
The Minister-designate, also the Member of Parliament for Walewale constituency stated these when she appeared before the Appointments Committee to be vetted as the substantive Minister for the Gender, Children and Social Protection Ministry.
Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Alexander Afenyo-Markin who raised the matter asked the opinion of the nominee in view of the Promotion of proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values Bill currently in front of Parliament and the fact that it will criminalize people’s sexuality.
“Mr. Chairman, eh…. to me now, our laws frown on it and our values and traditions also frown on it. So to me now there is no law permitting it,” she stated.
The Deputy Chair who is aware the nominee is from the northern part of Ghana and also Muslim which are vehemently opposed to gayism and lesbianism decided not to push further and said,” I get the impression that you’re not willing to go further on that and so I will leave it there.”
Speaking on School Feeding, the nominee admitted the 79 pesewas per day allocated for feeding each pupil falls far short of the resources needed to feed a child in a day.
She agreed this has to be adjusted upwards because it has been in place for long and things have changed over the many years that have impacted the amount for feeding each child.
“The government has taken cognizance of that and that is why it is doing something about it this year,” she said.
Hajia Lariba Abudu rejected suggestions the number of schools benefitting from the program should be reduced in order to ensure the food provided will be nutritious enough.
She argued more schools should rather be included in the programme because it has an important role in retaining children in school.
She promised to engage the government to increase the feeding fee as the current allocation is woefully inadequate to feed the children.