President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is the only person who has the power to sign the anti-gay bill under the laws of Ghana, spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, has said.
To that end, he said, Ghanaians are looking up to him to do so.
Speaking on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3 Thursday, April 11, while commenting on the rejection of gay practices by the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu said “For [Dr Bawumia], he said it is not an ‘If’ or ‘but’ matter, it is something that goes against his faith, personal ethics, his morality, his tradition, his culture, and so as the former President [John Dramani Mahama] has also indicated. But they are all waiting to be voted into office so we see what they can also use their power to do.
“Currently, the one who can take action is the President [Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo] and he is one that we are looking up to, if he fails us, it will be very disappointing.
“He himself has told us that we should be citizens and not spectators. Let him remain committed to his declaration that he does not support gay marriage and, therefore, he must sign this into law. Let us not hide behind technicalities of law and derail this whole process.”
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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.”
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.
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.
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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.