By Melanie Nathan, December 23, 2024.
“Sign this Anti-LGBTQ Bill” said this man of God, the Church Moderator of Ghana’s Presbyterian Church, urging the current President, Akufo-Addo, of Ghana, to give: “a ‘Birthday Gift’ to Presbyterians before Leaving office”
The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to assent to the controversial and dangerous anti-LGBTI bill before the end of his term in January 2025. Speaking during the launch of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana’s Bicentennial Anniversary at the Osu Castle on Sunday, December 22, 2024, the Moderator urged the President to solidify his legacy by approving the bill.
Describing the 'Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2024' as a "birthday gift" for the church’s bicentennial celebration, Rt. Rev. Dr. Opare Kwakye stated, “Your Excellency, make our joy complete. We are confident that in these last days, you will assent to the bill so that it becomes law in Ghana.”
The Moderator framed the bill as a means to preserve African values through the gospel, reiterating the church's strong support, which was first pledged under his predecessor.
President Akufo-Addo was the special guest at the event which the moderator made that statement.
On December 18, 2024, Ghana’s Supreme Court dismissed two cases challenging the bill, also known as The Family Values Bill of 2024”, citing prematurity since the legislative process was ongoing and the bill had not yet become law, as it was still pending the President’s assent at the time the cases were filed. After the cases were filed back in March, 2024, the President refused to assume delivery of the Bill for assent stating he was waiting for the Court to rule on those challenges. The Court took almost an entire year to rule that the case was dismissed due to prematurity.
The anti-LGBTQ bill, passed by Parliament on February 28, 2024, still now awaits the President’s assent. President Akufo-Addo’s decision could define the closing chapter of his administration, with significant implications for both domestic and international relations.
The Bill is extremely onerous and has been condemned by the United States, Canada, UK and most European countries. It criminalizes and punishes anyone identifying as "LGBTQAAP," which includes allies and advocates, and goes much further effectively to curb the freedoms of all Ghanaians.
The new incoming President John Mahama, from the opposition party, promised during his campaign that he would sign the Bill into law, but seems to be getting pushback from some in Ghana who fear the economic and diplomatic pressures will be detrimental to the country’s interests.
See the video where Kwakye calls on the President to sign the Bill and note the popularity of the Bill among clergy and others in attendance:
The large majority of Ghanaians are anti-LGBTQI. The belief is homosexuality is against African norms and culture and hence considered un-African. They tout it as a Colonial import from the West and that homosexuals are influenced by the West to a behavior that is chosen and can be cured. However, what this narrative fails - is the truth, evidenced by the very fact that the man asking for the legislation in this video is himself a Colonial import by virtue of the religious clothe that he adorns and the Church to which ascribes his faith. The truth is that it is homophobia that has been the American and western import into Ghana, courtesy Evangelical Christians, evidenced by the very naming of the Bill and more. We know that American Evangelicals have spent well over fifty million dollars on African soil to promote such legislation, lest we forget that prior to Colonization by the British in Ghana, there were no penal codes criminalizing homosexuality. Stay tuned.
CONTACT: Melanie Nathan, B.A. LL.B commissionermnathan@gmail.com COUNTRY CONDITIONS EXPERT WITNESS:
Melanie Nathan, Executive Director of African Human Rights Coalition is a qualified country of origin expert witness in the United States and global immigration courts, providing expert written country conditions reports and testimony for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, non-binary, LGBTQI + asylum seekers from African Countries, to include those perceived as such, activists, allies and human rights defenders.
Melanie also consults multinational corporations regarding briefings and policy for operations and issue impacted by anti-homosexuality laws and country conditions.
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