Members of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) say they are praying and are hopeful that His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will assent to the anti-LGBT bill passed by the Ghanaian parliament.
“As we pray and hope that the President will assent to the bill, we wish to urge you not to rest until the bill is finally signed into law,” the letter cited by Catholic Trends said.
The Bishops in the letter expressed gratitude and support to Parliament for the passing of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Value Bill, 2021.
The passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Value Bill on February 28 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 the bill.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s Finance Ministry is urging President Akufo-Addo to refrain from endorsing the passed bill.
In a press release dated Monday, March 4, the Ministry warned of significant financial repercussions should the bill be approved. Notably, Ghana could face a considerable reduction in World Bank funding, with an estimated potential loss of USD$3.8 billion over the next five to six years.
“The President may have to defer assenting to the Bill until the court rules on the legal issues tabled by key national stakeholders (CSOs and CHRAJ),” the statement said.
