President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has given strong indication that he will not allow the abominable lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) commonly known as homosexuality and lesbianism practices under his presidency.
He stressed that legislation of same-sex marriage to become lawful is not a matter he will ever consider as a president.
“I have said it before, and let me stress it again, that it will not be under the Presidency of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that same-sex marriage will be legal. For same-sex marriage to be legalised in Ghana, it will not be in my time as President,” President Akufo-Addo reiterated.
He made the commitment on Saturday at the installation of the second Archbishop of the Anglican Church held in Asante Mampong.
It would be recalled that the police together with a landlord on February 24 stormed and locked the LGBTQI office at Ashongman in Accra in the wake of public discourse over their operations.
EU participation
The European Union (EU) confirmed it participated in the opening of the new office space for the group, reiterating its support for similar organisations.
It was also reported that the LGBTQI Rights Ghana on January 31, 2021, hosted a fundraiser to officially introduce and promote its office and community space.
In attendance at the event were some invited guests including the Australian High Commissioner, Mr Gregory Andrews, the Danish Ambassador, Mr Tom Nørring and some delegates from the EU.
In a post on Facebook, the EU in Ghana stated that, “A couple of weeks ago the EU in Ghana participated in the opening of the new community space of the @LGBTRightsGhana. Equality, tolerance and respect for each other are core values of the EU. The EU supports civil society organisations promoting #LGBTIQ rights 🇪🇺🏳️🌈. #EU4LGBT”.
This has generated a lot of discussions over the group and their creeping activities in the country.
The opening of the office was condemned by many as a subtle enforcement of the group’s activities which they argue are contrary to the country’s laws, culture and beliefs.
Pro-LGBTQI rights activists in the country have argued that the law does not explicitly outlaw the act aside from its criminalisation of unnatural carnal knowledge.
According to them, government must protect their interests as citizens.
However, the National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values, a group which advocates against the activities of the LGBTQI movement in Ghana is urging government not to entertain the group in the country.
The coalition is made up individuals and religious groups such as the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), National Peace Council and the office of the National Chief Imam.
The Executive Secretary of the Coalition, Moses Foh-Amoaning advanced arguments for the government to dispel the ambiguity surrounding the laws on sexuality.
He explained that Ghana as a country has not signed any international laws permitting the promotion of LGBTQI activities in the country.
He said any attempt by anyone to promote the activities of the group will amount to an illegality.
CDD Boss
Meanwhile, Executive Director of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has cautioned government to not be swayed by what he described as the tyranny of the masses in relation to the protection of minority groups in the country.
Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh said should government allow itself and its power to be deployed by the majority against minority groups, it further marginalises and victimises these minority groups in the country.
