Signing or rejection of the LGBTQ+ bill: Litmus Test of Akufo-Addo’s sincerity and ‘Ghanaianess’

Akufo-Addo and the NPP Party used the name of God to ascend the presidency and the former surrounded himself with Owusu Bempah and co at the onset of his presidency. The biblical quote used for the NPP campaigns in the lead up to the 2016 general elections was ‘The battle is the Lord’s!!!’. This was taken from 1 Samuel 17:47.

The NPP Party made Ghanaians believe that it was only the Lord who could conquer battles and would install Akufo-Addo as the 5^th President of the 4^th Republic for His glory and purpose. Thus, the governing NPP's regime led by Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia was going to be victorious by the grace of God.

This governing NPP Party led by Akufo-Addo marshalled Ghanaian Christians and others to buy into his personal pledge to God to build Him a Cathedral if he won the 2016 Presidential election.

This National Cathedral building project has turned out to be a highly controversial one and full of opaqueness and potential corruption, which has become a big, deep ‘hole’ in the middle of Accra after many buildings were destroyed in the process.

The Bible condemns homosexual activity as well as other ‘wrongdoers’ in our society (see Romans 1:27 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

While the West has markedly moved away from these biblical teachings, the African cultures and traditions still show strong disapproval of homosexual activity and passed ‘anti-gay’ laws to curb the spread of such acts in Africa.

Ghana’s Parliament has joined other countries like Uganda to pass the ‘Human Sexual Rights and Family Values’ (also termed anti-LGBTQ+ bill) on 28.02.2024. The bill was passed without controversies as LGBTQ+ persons and their promoters can face a minimum of 6 months to 5 years in prison for infractions if the bill is assented by President Akufo-Addo who is in possession of the bill now.

While a few voices spoke against the passage of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, about 90% of Ghanaians are for the passage of this bill as Ghanaian family values are not in congruence with the promotion of homosexual activities in the country.

The passage of this anti-LGBTQ+ bill by Ghana’s hung Parliament would not have been better than now, under the Presidency of Akufo-Addo. This is because the signing or not of the current LGBTQ+ bill is a potent Litmus Test of Akufo-Addo’s sincerity and ‘Ghanaianess’.

Before the passage of the bill, Akufo-Addo assured the religious factions in the country that he would not endorse LGBTQ+ activities under his regime and that he would go with majority of Ghanaians. Akufo-Addo has now walked back on his interview with the BBC on LGBTQ+ advocacy when he said that it was bound to happen in Ghana.

Here is also the President and his NPP Party which won political power in 2016 on the back of ‘The battle is the Lord’s’ mantra and went ahead with the National Cathedral building project to reflect their passion for God.

Regrettably, this Cathedral project is now stalled with so much opaqueness and potential corruption acts with a number of Men of God resigning from the Cathedral Board of Trustees.

The bible says that, by their fruits, we shall know them. If President Akufo-Addo and the NPP have been insincere with Ghanaians only to get political power and appear to be ‘godly’ and now running away from the family values of Ghanaians, it will be confirmed via the decision of President Akufo-Addo to either assent the bill into law or not.

As all attention is now on President Akufo-Addo to act on the bill, his sincerity and ‘Ghanaianness’ are undergoing a serious Litmus Test now. His legacy is at stake!

The West has expressed its displeasure at the passage of this anti-LGBTQ+ bill while majority of Ghanaians wants it to be a law as soon as possible. Akufo-Addo’s failure to assent to the bill will surprise many Ghanaians and it will mean kowtowing to the wishes of the dominant West, which will undermine the sovereignty of Ghana.