Executive Director of the Alliance for Christian Advocacy Africa, Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong, has urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to promptly sign the Anti-LGBT+ Bill into law.
He emphasized that this action would demonstrate the president’s commitment to reflecting the national interest and addressing the concerns of Ghanaians.
His call comes in the wake of Parliament’s passage of the Promotion of Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, also known as the Anti-LGBT+ Bill, on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, which is now awaiting presidential approval.
Despite criticisms of the bill by individuals such as Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong contends that the legislation aligns with the collective interests of the country. Therefore, he believes the president should promptly assent to the bill to provide a national response to this issue.
What happened in Parliament yesterday was not just about the MPs; it was something that is of national concern. It is something that troubled Ghanaians, and thankfully, some MPs took it to Parliament for us. We have been having conversations about it for a very long time, and we got Sam George and some other MPs to sponsor the bill in Parliament.
“What is left now is for the president to sign; we are pleading with him because this is of national consent; he should give it a national response,” he stated.
In response to critics, the clergyman emphasized that democracy entails allowing everyone to express their views freely, without coercion.
“Democracy requires that we have opinions. When I wake up in the morning, and I am hungry, I should be able to say that I am hungry without people asking me why I am hungry.
“So, because of democracy, we must allow everybody to share their opinion. Some people will prefer to share their opinions on TV, just as we are doing now, while others will prefer demonstrations or going to court. Some people prefer to go to Parliament like Sam George and his colleagues. So, we cannot stop people from having opinions as far as the bill is concerned,” he added.
Meanwhile, Professor Audrey Gadzekpo argued that the bill was passed for political reasons rather than genuine concerns about societal values.
Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong made these remarks in an interview with Accra-based UTV on February 29, 2024.