AFRICA/GHANA- Bishops: "The President should sign the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill"

Accra (Agenzia Fides) - "We urge the President to give his assent to this Bill, which we believe aligns with the moral convictions of almost all Ghanaians." With these words, the Bishops of Ghana have called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to sign the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill into law, which aims to "provide for proper a human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values" by banning LGBT+ propaganda. The bill was passed by Parliament on February 28, 2014 and is awaiting the President's signature to enter into force. The President says he is awaiting two Supreme Court rulings to determine whether the law is in accordance with the Constitution.
“We see no justification for the President’s delayed action on the matter,” the bishops said in a statement issued after their Annual Plenary Assembly held November 8-16 at the Pope John Paul II Formation Center in Ofoase Kokoben, Obuasi Diocese, Ashanti Region.
“In fact, we consider the reasons proffered for the delay as mere excuses. This is not a call for discrimination but for the preservation of our moral fabric and the protection of the traditional marriage and family as the foundation of our society,” the Episcopal Conference reiterated.
The legislative measure has sparked a lively debate in Ghana between those in favor (in addition to the Catholic Church, most of the country’s religious groups, and the National House of Chiefs, the body that brings together Ghana’s traditional leaders) and those opposed, such as civil rights groups. In a note dated February 28, the US State Department said it was "deeply troubled" by the approval of the law by the Ghanaian parliament. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 18/11/2024)

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