A legislator of the Ghanaian Parliament, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has cautioned Christians against the reliance on legislation to address their LGBTQI+ concerns.
The Oda Member of Parliament (MP), speaking at an event held at an Assemblies of God Church, said though the bill—sponsored by some eight MPs—seeks to criminalise the activities of the LGBTQI+ community, the reliance on it to the neglect of the spiritual component could be detrimental to the church.
“The church should not rely on the legislation else we would lose the fight”, he stressed, giving the reason that “soon it will become a political issue and the spiritual realities will be lost.”
Mr. Akwasi Acquah added that the congregation must not be deluded by the mere fact that stringent measures have been put in place “to deal with it in our own way” because the legislation can fail, but instead commit to prayer since it is a powerful means to overturn anomalies.
Citing the situation in the United States as basis for his argument, he mentioned that the system, having accepted the practices and amended a law in effect—the Equality Act—to protect LGBTQI rights, and in their advancements restricted the church from speaking against same, now bears the brunt of their actions.
Thus, they are torn between preaching against other forms of sexual immoral behaviors and continuing to enforce the law because of the need to keep the procreation process.
He said it is reason the church in Ghana must be circumspect and pray rather than depend on the legislation which could be politicised.
The MP’s position on the LGBTQI+ issue is however contrary to that of organizations’ like the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) and Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) among others who in the heat of the debate called on the President and Parliament of Ghana to state their position on the matter and enact a law that prohibits the community’s activities in the country.
About the LGBTQI+ Bill
The bill, under the name “The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021”, was sponsored by eight Parliamentarians through a Private Member’s Bill.
The sponsors include: Samuel Nartey George representing Ningo-Prampram; Della Sowah for Kpando; Emmanuel Bedzrah, Ho West; and John Ntim Forjour, Assin South.
The others are: Alhassan Suhuyini representing Tamale North; Rita Sowah for La Dadekotopon; Helen Ntoro, Krachi West; and Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, South Dayi.
The bill proposes ten (10) key things which are stated below:
• Individuals of the same sex who engage in sexual intercourse are to be fined between 50 and 5,000 penalty units or face a jail term of between 3 years and 5 years, or both.
• Persons who use any medium or technological platform to produce, procure, market, broadcast, disseminate, publish or distribute materials with the intention of promoting LGBTQI+ activities face a jail term of between 5 and 10 years.
• All LGBTQI+ groups, associations, clubs and organizations to be disbanded. Anyone found guilty to be jailed between 6 and 10 years.
• Proscription of sex with or marriage to an animal
• Ban on same-sex marriage and marriage to someone who has undergone sex reassignment
• Anyone who funds or sponsors activities of LGBTQI+ groups or individuals to be jailed between 5 and 10 years
• LGBTQI+ persons not to be granted application to adopt or foster a child or children
• Persons of the same sex who make public show of amorous relationship to face jail term of between 6 months and a year.
• Anyone who physically or verbally assaults, abuses or harasses a person accused of being LGBTQI+ to be fined between 500 penalty units and 1,000 penalty units or to be jailed between 6 months and a year.
• Persons accused of being LGBTQI+ should be granted access to medical assistance if they make such a request during the period of their incarceration.
