The General Secretary of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has reiterated the caution that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) would pay the ultimate price in the upcoming election should President Akufo-Addo refuse to assent to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.
Very Reverend Clement Kwasi Adjei during a discussion on JoyNews’ PM Express highlighted the Catholic Church’s significant presence on the ground.
According to him, the Church is not confined to the Greater Accra region alone but has established itself in almost every corner of the nation.
Thus, if President Akufo-Addo chooses not to listen to the desires of the people, then he should ready himself for its consequences.
“There will be political consequences if President Akufo-Addo refuses to assent to the bill. People are going to vote [this year] and the church is on the ground, the Catholic Church is in almost every town.
“It is in the regions, districts, and villages. And the priests and the clergies are all over, so the President not assenting must also think about the repercussions of his actions in this country,” he warned.
Very Reverend Adjei also argued that as the head of the state, President Akufo-Addo must be attuned to the desires of the people, within the framework of the law.
He stated that if the citizens of Ghana express their desire for legislation barring LGBTQ+ activities in the country, the President, despite potential challenges, should align with the will of the people by explaining the consequences to them.
Parliament on Wednesday, February 28, unanimously passed the Anti-LGBTQ+ bill following the completion of the third reading.
The anti-LGBTQ+ Bill has been a topic of intense debate and discussion since it was introduced to the legislature three years ago. While proponents argued that it is necessary to uphold cultural and religious values, opponents argued that portions of the Bill violates human rights and promotes discrimination.
Meanwhile, the United States has warned of dire implications for the Ghanaian economy after Parliament enacted the bill.
Already, some human rights groups in Ghana have threatened to head to the Supreme Court if President Akufo-Addo signs the bill for it to become law.
There are currently two lawsuits before the Supreme Court against the bill, and the President has indicated the need to wait for the outcome of the Supreme Court action before he takes action on the bill.
Credit: Ama Cromwell