By Isaac Arkoh
Cape Coast, April 17, GNA – Some religious leaders and Faith-based organisations at a two-day capacity building on human rights have called for the scrapping or fine-tuning of the expired Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill before passage.
They had no doubt that the expired anti-gay bill as being called could deepen Ghana’s cultural and family values but the ‘draconian’ aspects of the bill, particularly against people identified as queer and sanctions regime be relooked.
While commending the proponents of the expired Bill for their efforts, they stressed the urgent need for them to be malleable to dissenting views against the bill.
They also called for a comprehensive approach, intensified moral and health education on the practice rather than declaring it a crime with a legal backing.
The conference was arranged by CDD-Ghana to discuss the right approach to protecting and respecting the rights of sexual minorities in Ghana.
The engagement sought to broaden up the conversation on the expired Bill to enable the religious leaders to educate their followers and members on the rights of these minorities in the country.
Reverend Justice Abeiku Aggrey, a Pastor at the AME Zion Church in Saltpond, said Ghana should prioritise enhancing its moral and cultural values over passing laws to criminalize activities of sexual minority groups or LGBTQ+ activities.
While he did not oppose laws that addressed such activities, he believed that strengthening national cultural values could effectively address many social vices that currently fester within society.
He argued that fostering moral integrity rooted in Ghanaian traditions and values will promote social cohesion, discipline, and respect, which were essential for national development.
“By focusing on moral education and cultural reinforcement, Ghana can build a more harmonious society that upholds its long-standing traditions of peace, tolerance, and respect for human dignity, rather than relying solely on punitive laws that may deepen social divisions,” he said.
Reverend Father Stephen Afenyi of the Church of Christ Cathedral in Cape Coast expressed his strong stance against criminalizing LGBTQ+ activities, emphasising that such measures had not been effective in halting many social vices.
Instead, he advocated for a compassionate approach, suggesting the implementation of psychological, health and mentoring support systems to help individuals in the LGBTQ+ community find redemption.
“Let us help them to heal rather than jail them. Our prisons are already overcrowded and there are rumours of such practices occurring within them, so imprisoning them would only exacerbate the situation,” he further explained.
For Evangelist Albert Adjetey Ablorh of the Chapel Hill Church of Christ in Cape Coast, he called for increased bottom-up engagement on the expired Bill concerning the rights of sexual minority groups before it was reintroduced to Parliament.
He expressed concern over the lack of thorough public and stakeholder consultations on the complex legal intricacies of the Bill, particularly regarding the rights of sexual minority groups and the sanctions’ regime outlined within the legislation.
Many other religious leaders through the Ghana News Agency, emphasised the need for collective responsibility from all sectors of society to support and contribute meaningfully to the Bill’s development.
They prayed that the government would take ownership of the reintroduction of the Bill to Parliament to ensure that all necessary remedial measures were taken.
Also, they called for a more inclusive and comprehensive process be adopted to foster understanding, minimise controversy, and ensure that the legislation was both just and sustainable for all Ghanaians.
That approach, they noted, would help avoid the legal challenges that previously arose, especially since the state did not bear the costs associated with Bills introduced by private members, as stipulated by law.
Mr William Nyarko, Executive Director of the African Centre for International Law, highlighted the importance of tolerance as outlined in Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
He emphasised that Chapter Five of the Constitution clearly protects citizens’ rights and that should guide discussions on LGBTQ+ issues, while supporting child protection from social vices.
He further argued that any legal action should target state actions rather than private individuals.
Dr Nuworza Kugbey, Psychologist and Senior Lecturer, urged leaders to respect the rights of their followers while considering religious beliefs.
He noted that many religious practices had evolved, and some previously accepted beliefs infringed on members’ rights rather than serving as fair punishment or reformation, conflicting with legal standards.
GNA
AT/KOA