Dr. Lawrence Tetteh, the Founder and President of Worldwide Miracle Outreach, has expressed significant dissatisfaction with his fellow religious leaders’ silence regarding the controversial Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.
He criticised their apparent lack of response, labelling it “cowardice,” particularly following President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s decision not to sign the Bill.
Dr. Tetteh has pledged to organise a protest march to the Jubilee House if the President does not approve the bill, contingent upon the Supreme Court’s endorsement of its passage.
“I’ll march to the Jubilee House. I think it’s about time we let politicians know we voted them into power. The cowardice that Christian leaders and religious leaders have been reduced to is a shame and I’m embarrassed by some of our clergymen.
“As much as we are interested in our titles, in the big titles, and in who we are and how long we’ve served, I’m yet to hear certain people speak against these manners. And for me, that is a shame. And so, it starts at home too.
He added, “It starts with the clergymen. It starts with the religious clerics. It starts at the home of the Chief Iman. It starts with the Chairman of the Christian Council. It starts with the Apostolic leaders. It starts with the Apostolic Fathers. It also starts with the Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Anglicans. But also, beyond that, it starts with the charismatic leaders.
“We’ve been too quiet. And as much as we are grumbling, everybody wants to impress certain people and that nonsense, for me, must stop.”
The Presidency has formally requested that Parliament to refrain from sending the anti-gay bill for approval, citing legal concerns. Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, criticised this decision by the President.
On February 28, 2024, Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Act, 2024, criminalising LGBTQ+ activities, promotion, advocacy, and funding.
Offenders may face imprisonment from 6 months to 3 years, while promoters and sponsors could face 3 to 5 years’ imprisonment.
Currently, there’s a deadlock between the Executive and Legislative branches over the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
Legal challenges have been mounted by two private legal practitioners, Richard Dela Sky and Gender Activist Dr. Amanda Odoi, seeking the annulment of the bill.
The Supreme Court adjourned Richard Sky’s application, seeking a declaration of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill as null and void, to May 17, 2024.
The adjournment, as ruled by the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, is to enable counsel for the plaintiff to “file a fresh motion paper with a supporting affidavit and statement of the case.”
Counsel for the first defendant, Thaddeus Sory, suggested to the court that the applicant be given time to amend paragraphs five and seven of his applications to sync with his reliefs.
Paragraph five of the applicant’s writ is seeking “an order restraining the Speaker of Parliament and the Clerk to Parliament from presenting The Human and Sexual Values Bill, 2024 to the President of the Republic for his assent.”
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