A former Member of Parliament for Jomoro, Samia Yaba Nkrumah, has called on President Akufo-Addo to withhold his approval of the contentious anti-LGBT+ bill.
Criticizing the legislation as excessively “harsh and unjust,” Nkrumah expressed concerns that it could further deepen divisions within Ghanaian society.
She urged President Akufo-Addo to exercise caution and advocated for a more inclusive and education-focused approach rather than endorsing the proposed law.
In an interview with Daily Graphic, she stated, “I pray the president does not sign it or assent to it. I believe it is a brutal, harsh, and unjust law, and we don’t need it. We are against rape, paedophilia, against all these situations that people seem to be terrified of gays, and I think we need to educate ourselves.
“But most importantly, I don’t support anything that brings division and torments the people of Ghana. We are all Ghanaians, and we need to protect and take care of each other”.
In the midst of the controversy, President Akufo-Addo has declared a temporary halt on assenting to the anti-LGBT+ bill pending a Supreme Court ruling on its constitutionality.
He informed the diplomatic community of a pending case challenging the bill’s legality and assured them that Ghana remains committed to human rights and the rule of law.
The bill has elicited widespread reactions nationally and internationally, with the Ministry of Finance advising against its approval due to potential repercussions for the country’s financial support from international organizations. The President emphasized the need to await the court’s decision before taking any action, acknowledging concerns raised by the diplomatic community about the bill’s passage through Parliament.