2 days ago
Apostle Erezola John, the Public Relations Officer for Ambassadors for Christ Council in Techiman, Bono East Region has criticized the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference's call for President John Mahama to assent to the anti-LGBTQI+ Bill, describing it as hypocritical.
He believes the Conference should have pressured Former President Akufo Addo to assent to the bill instead of calling on President Mahama to do so.
Ghana's Former President Nana Akufo-Addo said he will not assent to the anti-gay bill until Supreme Court rules on its constitutionality.
The bill which was Passed by MPs in 2024 imposes a jail term of up to three years for identifying as LGBTQ+ and five years for promoting their activities.
The Supreme Court challenger says there was no quorum when the bill was passed.
Gay sex is already against the law in Ghana, and carries a three-year prison sentence.
The proposed tough new legislation - The Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill - was backed by both of Ghana's main political parties.
Former President Akufo-Addo had previously said that he would sign it if the majority of Ghanaians wanted him to do so.
But he later assured the diplomatic community that Ghana is committed to upholding human rights.
The Catholic Bishops Conference had urged the government to reintroduce the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill and ensure its prompt passage into law.
President Mahama had suggested that a government-sponsored bill would be more effective in building national consensus and consultation.
However, Apostle John's statement suggests that the Catholic Bishop Conference's actions are seen as hypothetical, and it is too early to call on President Mahama to assent to the bill.
In his explanation on Fabea FM's "Me Man Ho Dadwen" with Apiah-Kubi in an exclusive interview, the Apostle noted that the bill's passage is crucial, as Ghanaians overwhelming support it, but he emphasized that President Mahama should be given time to address the bill.
"Catholic Bishop Conference could have pressured the former President, Akufo Addo, to assent to the bill", he reiterated.
"It is worth noting that the bill's passage is crucial, as Ghanaians overwhelmingly support it. But I think it's too early to pressure John Mahama," Apostle John bemoaned.
He said the Catholic Bishop Conference should have been courageous and voiced out against when an individual petitioned the court on the anti-LGBTQI Bill, which could have been assented to by the former President Akufo Addo.
"President Mahama has said something will be done about the bill, therefore we should give him some time to address the bill," Apostle John stated.
In his conclusion, he also questioned the Catholic Bishop Conference's silence when an individual petitioned the court on the LGBTQI Bill, urging the conference to be courageous and voice out against such actions in the future.
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