Vice President and flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has declared his strong opposition to the practice of homosexuality or LGBTQ+ in Ghana.
He said he is against the practice, based on his fundamental belief as a Muslim, and also on the cultural values of Ghanaians.
Speaking on the raging issue publicly for the first time, Dr. Bawumia told thousands of Muslims during Eid-ul-Fitr prayers in Kumasi yesterday that as a Muslim, he is “strictly” against the practice and, therefore, cannot support it.
Dr Bawumia’s public announcement has decisively answered all those calling on him to declare his stance on the issue.
He indicated that for the avoidance of doubt, that his stand against the practice would not end within the remit of his personal opinions, but would also translate into executive steps to oppose it, if he is elected President.
“I will take this opportunity to personally comment on the raging issue of LGBTQI+ in 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.
“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 LGBTQI+ acts, including same-sex marriages. One such verse is Quran Chapter 7 Verse 81 (Suratul Al-A’raf), where Almighty Allah emphatically forbids LGBTQI+ acts and describes them as acts that transgress beyond the bounds or the limits of nature. My faith is very strictly against the practice of homosexuality, no ‘ifs’ or ‘buts’. No shades of grey.
“Therefore, I cannot support that which my religion, and indeed, all the major religions in Ghana clearly and unequivocally 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.”
The discussion around normalising and liberalising queer sexual relations in the country took an interesting spike in 2021 when some Members of Parliament (MPs) proposed the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, to among other things criminalise the practice and propagation of LGBTQI+ activities in the country.
The bill, which has currently been passed by Parliament has drawn calls from the public on leading political stakeholders to indicate their stand, a call to which the Vice-President has responded in this significant religious day of Islam, to underscore his solemn stand against it.
The bill will impose three years’ minimum jail term and five years’ maximum incarceration on those who engage in and promote homosexual activities in the country.
However, the Bill is yet to be assented into law by President Nana Akufo-Addo, following a challenge at the Supreme Court against the legislation.
