The spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, has lauded Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for rejecting LGBTQ activities in his Eid message to the Muslim community.
Dr. Bawumia, in his Eid message on Thursday, April 11, noted, “It is important to note our cultural, societal and norms, as well as our values as Ghanaians frown on same-sex marriage.”
He added that “as a Muslim, my view on this matter aligns with the position of my religious faith. My faith is strictly against the practice of LGBTQ+. No ifs, no buts.”
According to Sheikh Aremeyaw, the Muslim community has been waiting to hear the vice president’s position on the controversial subject.
The Muslim cleric stated that, as a Muslim, he is excited to hear Dr. Bawumia “unequivocally” reject same-sex activities.
“The fact that we have not heard from him [Dr. Bawumia] for some time was a matter of trepidation for us,” he said, adding, “We’ve been waiting for [it] with anxiety.”
“I must say, as a Muslim, I am happy that finally he has stated his position on this matter in an unequivocal manner,” said Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu in an interview on JoyNews.
He emphasised that the position of the Vice President is “so clear” that it does not require any analysis, saying that “it is repugnant” to the NPP flagbearer, to him as a person, and to his culture and tradition.”
Parliament unanimously passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2024, which is commonly referred to as an anti-LGBTQ+ bill, but it has yet to be assented into law.
The bill criminalises anti-LGBTQ+ activities with a minimum of three months and a maximum of 10 years for individuals found guilty of LGBTQ+ practices prohibited under the law.
Currently, two independent applications for injunction orders have been filed at the Supreme Court, challenging, among other things, the constitutionality of the controversial bill.
Meanwhile, a Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), responding to the Vice President’s position, challenged him to either resign from his office or ask the President to sign the bill.
READ ALSO: Bawumia rejects LGBTQ emphatically in Eid message
Mustapha Gbande said, “We dare Vice President Dr. Bawumia if he disagrees with what President Akufo-Addo is doing now, he should man up and resign as vice president so that we can take him seriously.”
Several religious bodies have also called on the President to assent to the bill.
But President Akufo-Addo has urged Ghanaians to exercise patience as the country awaits the outcome of the Supreme Court case to “decide the next line of action.”
In a meeting with the diplomatic community on March 4, President Akufo-Addo stressed that Ghana will not turn “her back on her, hitherto, enviable, longstanding record on human rights observance and attachment to the rule of law.”
“I want to assure you that no such back-sliding will be contemplated or occasioned,” said the President.
The apex court, however, has yet to commence hearing the injunction applications.