The Catholic Bishop of Konongo-Mampong in the Ashanti Region, Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu says Ghanaians will be displeased with president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his government should he fail to assent the anti-LGBTQ bill currently before Parliament into law.
According to Most Rev. Osei-Bonsu, President Akufo-Addo’s comment on the matter during the working visit of Vice-president of the United States of America suggests that he may be contemplating on rejecting the bill if it is tabled before him.
The president, responding to questions by pressmen at a joint news conferences with Kamala Harris, distanced his government from the anti-LGBTQ bill.
He stressed that the bill was proposed and being pushed by a handful of individuals in their private capacities and has nothing to do with his government.
He was, however, quick to indicate that an intervention by his government, through the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, has led to a modification of the bill to safeguard human rights.
Although the president did not state he and his government’s position on the subject, he added that he will have the final say as to whether the bill get passed into law or not.
But this, Most Rev. Osei-Bonsu asserted is suggestive of the president entertaining the idea of disapproving the passage of the bill.
He is, therefore, cautioning him against harbouring such thoughts as any move by him against the bill will get him and his government on the wrong books of majority of Ghanaians.
“Your Excellency. you also added that if the Bill u’as passed. it still had to be ratified by you.
That is correct, but I hope that you are not entertaining any idea of not approving it. lf you do, you and your government will incur the wrath of at least 80 per cent of Ghanaians”.
Most Rev. Osei-Bonsu also asked the president to clearly state his position on LGBTQ+.
He argued that President Akufo-Addo has been inconsistent on his pronouncements on the matter and thus, his call on him to clearly state he and government’s stance on the issue.
The Catholic Bishop took issues with the president for describing proponents of the bill as handful and failing to let the US Vice president know that the current laws of the country prohibit activities of LGBTQ as well as correcting her understanding of human rights.
“ Mr. President, I would also be most grateful if you could bring to the attention of the Vice President of the United States. Kamala Harris, that her understanding of human rights is inconsistent with the general understanding of human rights as indicated in the definition above,” he stated.
“I would also be most grateful if you could state unequivocally what your position on LCBTQ+ is. I request this because many Ghanaians are not sure of your position on this matter, while they are clear about the position of some of your predecessors who have made their positions clear and unambiguous”.
He disagrees with Madam Kamala’s position that activities of LGBTQ+ are human rights, adding that such activities, if not checked, “will bring intolerable damage to the culture and religious way of life of our people”.
