Christian MPs Oppose Attempts To Force Ghana To Legalise Homosexuality

The Parliamentary Christian Fellowship has condemned moves to force Ghana to legalise homosexuality.

“I write on behalf of the Christian Community in the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana to convey our total disapproval or attempts to promote and pressurise the government of Ghana to accept lesbianism, Gayism, Bisexual and Transgender practices (LGBT) as human rights,” President of the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah indicated in a statement .

United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Theresa May recently urged Commonwealth nations including Ghana to overhaul “outdated” anti-gay laws and said the UK “deeply regrets” its role in the legacy of violence and discrimination.

Ms May drew cheers and applause when she told delegates at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (CHOGM) that “nobody should face discrimination or persecution because of who they are or who they love”.

Campaigners have urged Ms May to intervene over the colonial-era legislation affecting millions of LGBT people, as same-sex relations are still illegal in 36 Commonwealth countries.

The move was welcomed by campaigners, but pressure remains on Commonwealth leaders to take action.

Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta and Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni have stated publicly in interviews with international media that their countries are not in support of LGBT rights.

Some groups and individuals have kicked against accepting LGBT in Ghana and the latest to reject LGBT is Christian MPs.

The Parliamentary Christian Fellowship noted that: “It is common knowledge that such abominable practices have no place in our cultural norms as Africans. It is also true that quite apart from Christianity none of the known Religions in Ghana accepts these practices as normal human behaviour. The forbearers and founding fathers of our dear nation have great respect for the country's value systems and under no circumstance should we betray their legacy, toil and trust by allowing a rather backward practice using the legislative arm of government. The dynamism of any culture should positively impact on its existence and not to lead to its destruction”.

They are therefore “appealing to H.E the President of the Republic Ghana, not to allow any form of pressure being exerted on him and his government to introduce and or sponsor a bill to parliament for the legalisation of any indecent practice that the vast majority of Ghanaians frown upon. I also urge the President to be resolute and reject in whole all enticement, juicy promises and pressures from the west to accept this, dehumanising practice let alone forward same to the highly respected Parliament of Ghana for consideration. It is imperative that the President follows the examples of his predecessors by publicly stating the collective will of the people of Ghana”.

The legislators further pointed out that: “The good book states in Matthew 16: 13 that : … 'lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil'. Let it not be said that it is the current Parliament or any other Parliament in the future that would lead our dear country into temptation.

“We will support any bill that seeks to promote the dignity of our culture, health and prosperity or humankind.

“It is our believe that people with such tendencies towards same sex deserve assistance and deliverance from trained professionals and fervent prayer. We cannot afford to compromise the future of our nation”.