LGBTQI community has finally succeeded in getting Ghanaians into discussing the abominable act – Senior Lecturer

A Senior Lecturer at the Valley View University, Kumasi Campus, Dr Barnabas Addai Amanfo says the LGBTQI community has finally succeeded in getting Ghanaians to discuss their activities which were once abominable to mention in public.

According to Dr Amanfo, the LGBTQI community is using what he termed as discourse legitimization to drum their demands in Ghana.

Speaking on OTEC FM’S breakfast show dubbed “Nyansapo”, hosted by Captain Koda on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 he noted that the community sort out a quest to get Ghanaians to publicise their activities as a way to make it look normal for the youth, something he emphasized the community is gradually succeeding.

He has therefore called on the public to discuss activities of the LGBTQ community devoid of emotions in order to arrive at a conclusion that will protect the current and unborn generations.

His comments follow the passage of the Anti-LGBTQI bill by the Parliament of Ghana.

Ghana’s legislature on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 voted to pass a bill to restrict LGBTQ rights, practice and promotion.

The passage of the bill has since been condemned by human rights activists both local and international.

Ministry of Finance warning
The Ministry of Finance is pleading with President Akufo-Addo not to assent to the recently passed anti-LGBTQ bill by Parliament.

In a press release on Monday, March 4, the Finance Ministry cautioned that approving the bill could result in significant financial consequences for Ghana.

According to the Finance Ministry’s statement, Ghana stands to lose US$3.8billion in the next five to six years.

“The Presidency may have a structured engagement with local conservative forces such as religious bodies and faith-based organisations to communicate the economic implications of the passage of the ‘Anti-LGBTQ’ Bill and to build a stronger coalition and a framework for supporting key development initiative that is likely to be affected.”

It also added that “the President may have to defer assenting to the Bill until the court rules on the legal issues tabled by key national stakeholders (CSOs and CHRAJ).”

President Akufo Addo’s response
President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured the diplomatic community in Ghana that despite the passage of the “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill” (Anti-LGBTQI+ Bill) by Parliament on Wednesday, 28 February 2024, the country will not slip from her enviable and longstanding record as a country that respects the fundamental human rights of all persons within her territory.

Addressing the diplomatic corps in Ghana at the annual “New Year Greeting” held at the Peduase Presidential Lodge, Aburi Hills on Monday, 4 March 2024, President Akufo-Addo said he is aware of the difficulties some of the country’s international partners have with the Bill passed by Parliament.

However, he indicated a concerned citizen has invoked the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the Bill and to that end, he calls on everyone to hold their guns until the apex of the land (Supreme Court) pronounces its judgment on the constitutionality or otherwise of the Bill.

“I am aware that last week’s bi-partisan passage by the Parliament of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, on a Private Member’s motion, has raised considerable anxieties in certain quarters of the diplomatic community and amongst some friends of Ghana that she may be turning her back on her, hitherto, enviable, longstanding record on human rights observance and attachment to the rule of law.

“I want to assure you that no such back-sliding will be contemplated or occasioned. I think it will serve little purpose to go, at this stage, into the details of the origin of this proposed law, which is yet to reach my desk. But, suffice it to say, that I have learned that, today, a challenge has been mounted at the Supreme Court by a concerned citizen to the constitutionality of the proposed legislation,” President Akufo-Addo said.

“In the circumstances, it would be, as well, for all of us to hold our hands, and await the decision of the Court before any action is taken. The operation of the institutions of the Ghanaian state will determine the future trajectory of the rule of law and human rights compliance in our country,” President Akufo-Addo further stated in his remarks to members of the diplomatic community.

Catholic Bishops’ position
The Catholic Bishops Conference has threatened to punish the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the upcoming election if President Akufo-Addo refuses to sign the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill into law.

According to Very Rev Fr Clement Kwasi Adjei though concerns over whether or not to incarcerate suspects are welcome, “it doesn’t mean that the LGBTQ activities, we should support it.”

“We will speak and we will continue to keep speaking against what we think is wrong. If the President refuses to sign, and you know the implication for him [Nana Akufo-Addo] and his party. [I’m referring to] elections, voting… these things must not be hidden. We work in the villages, people are listening."