Anti-LGBT bill: Rest not until it’s signed into law – Catholic Bishops to Parliament

In a staunch affirmation of their stance, members of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) have lauded Ghana’s Parliament for the resolute passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Value Bill, 2021, urging the House of Legislation not to rest till the bill is signed into law by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The bill, which aims to promote “proper human sexual rights and family values”, received unanimous support after three years of deliberation on the floor of parliament on February 28.

Under the new development, individuals engaged in such activities could face imprisonment ranging from six months to three years, while promoters and sponsors of such acts could be sentenced to three to five years in jail.

Catholic Trends sources indicate that in a private letter addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. A.S.K. Bagbin on February 29, the Catholic Bishops of Ghana extended commendations to Parliament for its commitment to safeguarding the country’s cultural morals.

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The letter signed by Most Rev. Gyamfi expressed gratitude on behalf of the Catholic Church in Ghana, emphasizing the significance of preserving the nation’s cultural heritage. “We urge you not to rest until the bill is finally signed into Law,” he implored.

In July of last year, the Bill, which aligned with the position of the members of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC), received approval and adoption by the Committee on Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs in Ghana.

In November 2023, GCBC members expressed gratitude to Ghana’s legislators for their efforts in advancing the Bill, particularly commending the commitment of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Alban K.S Bagbin, to ensure its successful passage.

Following their Plenary Assembly from November 6 to 18, Catholic Bishops in Ghana issued a collective statement on November 17, urging lawmakers to expedite the process of enacting the Bill into law.

In December 2023, the Bishops reaffirmed their support for the anti-LGBTIQ+ Bill in a statement aimed at clarifying their position on homosexuality.

Titled, “The Catholic Church and the State on Homosexuality”, the December 11 statement noted that the “Church makes a distinction between the homosexual as a person and the acts that he may carry out as a homosexual person.”

Homosexual acts, GCBC members stated, are “intrinsically disordered and are in no case to be approved of. Thus, while the church does not condemn homosexuals for being homosexuals, it condemns the homosexual acts that they perform.”

The passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Value Bill has sparked both celebration and controversy across the nation. While proponents applaud it as a necessary step to protect traditional values and family structures, critics argue that it discriminates against LGBTQ+ individuals and infringes upon their human rights.

A coalition of human rights organizations, led by Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, Chair of the Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), has voiced opposition to Ghana’s Promotion of Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, colloquially known as the anti-gay bill.

Prof. Gadzekpo, expressing disappointment in an interview with TV3, hinted at potential legal recourse should President Akufo-Addo approve the legislation. She emphasized the importance of upholding constitutional rights, citing the need for the Supreme Court to adjudicate if laws contravene the constitution.