The Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has called on the clergy to intensify their efforts in campaigning against LGBTQ+ activities in Ghana.
Speaking during a fellowship with the clergy in Kumasi on Monday, November 11, Mahama expressed deep concern over the potential effects of LGBTQ+ practices on the youth, warning that such activities could undermine the values and traditions of Ghanaian society.
Mahama stated that, should he win the 2024 elections, he would prioritize efforts to combat the influence of LGBTQ+ practices in Ghana.
He emphasized that, while LGBTQ+ activities may be more widely accepted in some parts of the world, they are considered taboo in Ghanaian culture and morality.
“I believe that we, as a nation, must remain firm in preserving our values. The LGBTQ+ practice is foreign to our culture, and it is crucial that we protect our children from being influenced by such practices,” Mahama said.
The former president also questioned why Western nations, particularly the United States, appear willing to pressure African countries like Ghana to adopt LGBTQ+ policies, while refraining from imposing similar demands on more conservative regions like the Arab world.
He highlighted the inconsistency in these global demands and pointed out that no similar pressure is applied in countries like Saudi Arabia, where LGBTQ+ activities are strictly prohibited.
Mahama called on the clergy to continue educating the public, stressing that unity among religious groups ,Christians, Muslims, and traditional leaders is vital in preserving Ghana’s cultural identity.
“Christians, smaller gods, Muslims, and Imams have all voiced their opposition to LGBTQ+ practices because it is against our traditions and customs. Even in the Eastern world, not everyone supports it.
In America, the Evangelical Church does not approve of LGBTQ+ activities. Yet, their government is pushing this agenda in Ghana and other parts of the world, while remaining silent in Arabian countries where it is haram,” Mahama said.
He further emphasized that for Ghanaians, particularly as Christians, it is a taboo for a man to have sexual relations with another man or for a woman to engage in similar relations with a woman. “We must stand firm against this practice to ensure that our children are not influenced by it,” he urged.
Mahama also expressed concerns about the future of the Anti-LGBTQ+ bill, noting that while there has been significant support for its passage, he feared it may not be approved before the rise of the 8th Parliament.
The bill, which seeks to criminalize LGBTQ+ activities, their promotion, and funding, is currently facing legal challenges.
On October 17, 2024, the Supreme Court granted an additional seven days for the Speaker of Parliament’s lawyers to file their statement of defense in the ongoing suit challenging the bill.
If passed, the bill would impose prison sentences ranging from six months to three years for those found guilty of engaging in or promoting LGBTQ+ activities.
Those found to be advocating or sponsoring such activities could face jail terms between three and five years.
