The senior pastor of Holy Hill Chapel, Assemblies of God, Rev. Dr. Kwadwo Boateng Bempah, has expressed concern about President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s slow approval of the anti-LGBT+ bill, even though the country’s Parliament passed it.
The Man of God expressed his confusion during a sermon, asking why the bill which makes activities associated with the LGBT+ community illegal has not yet been ratified by the president even though all 275 members of Parliament have approved it unanimously.
He stressed that the MPs’ unanimous vote represents the views of all Ghanaians as a whole on the issue.
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“How many members of parliament are there in the parliament? 275. I ask you, man of God: Why are they there? Are they not speaking on our behalf? asked Reverend Dr Boateng Bempah.
Why is only one person in queue? Because what they are saying speaks for everyone here…No MP raised his hands during the voting process. Don’t sit down and tell me, pastor, that you can’t talk politics. This is our life. LGBT+ people are not politicians; they are people. This is not politics,” he continued.
After being approved by Parliament, the anti-LGBT+ Bill outlaws LGBT activities and makes funding, advocacy, and promotion of the movement illegal.
Anyone found guilty of these crimes faces a sentence ranging from six months to three years in prison, while promoters and sponsors face a sentence of three to five years.
Promoters and sponsors face terms ranging from three to five years in prison, while those found guilty of these acts might face sentences as long as six months to three years in prison.
Citing a constitutional challenge in the Supreme Court, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has postponed his decision on whether or not to sign the Bill into law.
In the event that the president decides against it, however, members of parliament have the power to veto the president’s decision and impose the Bill’s provisions by a two-thirds majority.
