The Chairman of the National Peace Council, Rev. Dr. Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, clarified that the council remains neutral on Ghana’s Parliament approving the anti-LGBT+ bill, citing their role as mediators and abstaining from taking sides on contentious issues.
Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issue program, he mentioned that the council is closely monitoring the situation and will consider mediation if conflicts arise.
He emphasized,”We don’t have a position on the passage of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill because we are mediators; we don’t take sides on issues like this”.
The passage of the bill has sparked debate within Ghana, drawing attention from the international community, including concerns raised by the U.S. embassy in Accra.
Gabby Otchere-Darko, a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), defended Parliament’s decision, urging those opposed to the bill to seek legal recourse if they find it unconstitutional.
“There are several issues that have come to us that people expected us to take sides on, but we realized it was important to remain neutral when they later came for conflict resolution.
“We are waiting to see how things will unfold so we know if to mediate/intervene in the event of a conflict.”
He emphasized the democratic process but acknowledged the potential consequences, urging media and politicians to inform the public about the bill’s pros and cons.
Mr Otchere-Darko highlighted the importance of respecting Ghana’s sovereign state status and cultural norms while suggesting a balance between traditional family values and values of tolerance and diversity.
“Ghana’s Parliament, in which is vested the sovereign will of the people, has democratically passed a harsher anti-LGBTQ+ Bill. Yes, democratically! In fact, the threat of being unseated for standing for the rights of gays, etc., certainly created its own culture of silence in the House! But, it is the decision of Parliament and one which enjoys huge popular support in the country.
“The world must understand that. But Ghanaians must also understand that it comes with consequences. Choices have consequences. We expect the media and the politicians to be fair to the people by letting them know the pros and cons of this decision to impose stiffer penalties against gays, etc. We also expect those who believe the bill is constitutionally wrong to do what is right and go to court.
“That is democracy! Our institutions of democracy are still strong and alive. Let’s have faith in our democracy. Let’s respect the choices we make and their consequences and believe in the process. Ghana remains a sovereign state with cultural norms that cannot be wished away but must be respected.
“I still believe, though, that we can balance our traditional family values with our traditional values of tolerance and diversity. That’s the Ghanaian way. The Ghanaian culture. The Ghanaian spirit. Our history. Our DNA. That is Ghanaian,” he expressed.
Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Joseph Whittal, expressed concerns about potential legal challenges if the bill is signed into law by the President. He advised careful handling due to the bill’s possible impact, emphasizing the need to respect Ghanaian values.