The flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has broken his silence on the controversial homosexuality conversation, unswervingly opposing its practice.
According to the Vice President, the societal and cultural norms of Ghana and its religions abhor the practice of homosexuality, and he personally cannot support it.
He said this on Thursday, April 11, 2024, while addressing some Muslim congregations during the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at the Kumasi Central Mosque in the Ashanti Region.
The NPP Presidential Candidate for the 2024 elections, Dr. Bawumia, did not mince words on his stance on homosexuality, saying that such practices would not be tolerated under his tenure as President of Ghana.
“First of all, it is important to note that our cultural and societal norms and values as Ghanaians frown on the practice of homosexuality,” Dr. Bawumia said.
He continued that “Furthermore, as a Muslim, my view on this matter aligns with the position of my religious faith. The Holy Quran is replete with verses frowning on LGBTQ acts, including same-sex marriages. My faith is therefore very strictly against the practice of homosexuality. No ifs or buts. No shades of grey,” he posited.
“Therefore, I personally cannot support that which my religion, and indeed, all the major religions in Ghana, clearly and unequivocably forbid. All the major religious traditions in Ghana (Christianity and Islam) are opposed to this practice, and I stand opposed to it now and I will stand opposed to it as President, Insha Allah,” he added.
CAMPAIGN
The issue of legalising or otherwise of the practice of homosexuality in Ghana has gained stamina in the electioneering campaign.
Political parties and their flag bearers are under intense pressure from citizens to emphatically take a position on the subject without sitting on the fence.
The mood of the nation is that the majority of Ghanaians will not hesitate to punish any political party and its candidate with their thumbs at the polls should they fail to come clear on the issue of homosexuality or support its practice in Ghana.
On various platforms, presidential candidate aspirants have overtly or covertly made pronouncements on their stance on the controversial subject, with none dissenting from the position of the entirety of the nation.
PASSAGE OF BILL
Parliament in February this year passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, also known as the anti-gay bill.
According to the bill, anyone who engages in and promotes homosexual activities in Ghana will face three years’ minimum jail term and five years’ maximum incarceration.
ASSENT
The bill, which was sponsored by private members from both the minority and majority groups in Parliament, is yet to be signed into law by President Akufo-Addo.
The President has communicated his difficulty in assenting the bill, following a challenge at the Supreme Court against the legality of the bill.
The Executive Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo, wrote to the Clerk to Parliament on March 18 to cease and desist from transmitting the bill to the presidency for the assent of the president.
Nana Assante Bediatuo would rather the Clerk to Parliament, Cyril Nsiah, wait till the determination of the matter in court.
Last Wednesday, April 10, Mr. Nsiah, in a response, expressed his intention to transmit the bill in accordance with Article 106(7) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, but he acknowledged the content of the letter for him to cease transmitting the bill until the court resolved the matter.
“Accordingly, I await an indication in writing from your Office on when to present the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2024, to His Excellency the President for his consideration, pursuant to Article 106(7) of the Constitution, 1992.”
EXPEDITED
Meanwhile, an Accra High Court has granted an application for the abridgement of time for the hearing of the case seeking to compel President Akufo-Addo to receive the anti-LGBTQ+ bill from parliament.
This case, filed by NDC MP Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, is demanding several declarations over the President’s refusal to receive the bill from Parliament.
