Our Ghanaian society, since the pre-colonial era, had always upheld a culture of morality and decency and within our cultural and traditional contexts, the practices of Lesbianism, Homosexuality, Bestiality and Transgender and other related practices of LGBTQI had long held as an abomination and utterly abhorred.
The concept of family for us as Ghanaians has always been and will always be initiated by marriage between a man and woman. The fundamental principle of Biblical marriage is construed as one between man and woman as it was in the beginning instituted by God between Adam and Eve.
The influence of the West on our society relating to LGBTQI infiltrations remains an age-old pressure, which must be resisted as long as the pressure shows no indication of abating.
Section 104 of Ghana’s Criminal Code proscribes LGBTQI with the specific provision of ‘unnatural carnal knowledge’.
While some activists have contended that the provision of ‘unnatural carnal knowledge’ is anachronistic and no longer sufficient to adequately address the emerging trends of LGBTQI matters in the country, and so therefore further strengthening of the law is required to position our laws more robust, encompassing and stringent in dealing with the abominable practices of LGBTQI, I have remained an ardent advocate for the enforcement of existing laws and fully inclined towards further legislation to adequately deal with these matters in consistency with the Constitution of Ghana and in line with our broad religious and cultural orientation, with particular regard for morality.
Contrary to the notion that persons practising LGBTQI in Ghana are discriminated against, I strongly hold the view that persons practising LGBTQI are rather unfortunately pampered and treated with kids gloves in Ghana.
This position of mine, among other references, is premised on the seeming public ‘glorifying’ on media of acts which are serious contravention of our law. The impunity of open and public advocacy and practice of LGBTQI is on the rise largely because perpetrators have not been prosecuted.
The recent opening of the LGBTQI resource centre in Accra is the height of it. Is the National Security apparatus telling us that they have no information on the location of this so-called LGBTQI resource centre that has been opened for weeks now?
Are they telling us they have no intelligence on the people and groups behind this abominable act? Why are they quiet? If ‘Armed Robbers Association’ or ‘Drug Traffickers Association’ were to publicly open an office in any obscure corner of Ghana, wouldn’t the security agencies conduct a rapid raid by now with alacrity?
It is appalling and most hypocritical that a state that abhors LGBTQI practices on religious and cultural orientation as well as criminalizes same practices per our Criminal Code would sit unconcerned for such impunity to be perpetrated.
Some of us, regardless of the ramifications, cannot shut up! I’ll keep up the advocacy for further strengthening of our laws to completely and assertively deal with the complexities of LGBTQI matters and will continue to explore my legislative options under the private member's bill until such a time when existing laws will be confidently enforced with additional laws proscribing the advocacy for LGBTQI practices in Ghana.
Until then, I strongly urge the national security apparatus to take urgent steps to CLOSE DOWN the LGBTQI resource centre in Ghana with immediate effect and prosecute the perpetrators accordingly.
My fervent appeal to our eminent Clergy, Muslim Clerics, and venerable Traditional leaders, respectfully, is that, if these LGBTQI practices and advocacies are truly deemed an affront to the values and orientation of what we unanimously believe in as a nation-state, then this is the time to rise up and make our voices and strong position heard and entrenched more uncompromisingly than ever before.
On the diplomatic front, I urge all state and non-state actors and external diplomatic entities to respect the sovereign orientation and decision of Ghana in such matters and withhold their undue interference under the guise of human rights.
***
Author: Rev. John Ntim Fordjour
MP for Assin South Constituency,
Member - Foreign Affairs Committee of 7th Parliament
Latest Stories
-
CSO calls for immediate removal of COCOBOD CEO
58 seconds -
How a young female geologist’s thesis is paving the way for Ghana’s Green Mineral Future 5 decades later
4 mins -
Pensions: The last time government paid Tier-2 funds was in June 2023 – Angel Carbonu
8 mins -
Submit audited statements by May or face sanctions – Akufo-Addo warns heads of SOEs
20 mins -
Samuel Inkoom’s SIFMA hold successful football tournament
27 mins -
Propak propelling growth of Ghana’s manufacturing industry for exports
29 mins -
Academic curriculum must reflect industry needs – Stanbic Bank CEO
35 mins -
Arnold Schwarzenegger says Sylvester Stallone rivalry helped his career
45 mins -
CSOs challenge KPMG’s claim linking rise in petroleum consumption to SML
50 mins -
Latif Abubakar partners Italian Embassy to stage ‘The Licence’
59 mins -
Decision to pay presidential spouses unconstitutional – Supreme Court
1 hour -
Government asked to address issues of financial mismanagement within SOEs
1 hour -
Full text: Akufo-Addo acts on KPMG’s findings and recommendations on transactions between GRA and SML
1 hour -
UEFA U-17: Ghana’s Black Starlets to play Russia in opener
1 hour -
Mrs. Gertrude Pabi Wiredu
2 hours