The General Overseer of Potterville Church International, who is also the UN Eminent Peace ambassador to Ghana, Amb. Bishop Sam Owusu has commended President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo for stating his position on same-sex marriage..
He said the laws of the land do not permit such act hence, the president’s comments were apt.
“The president’s comment settles the debates as to whether Ghana will legalize same-sex marriage and that is commendable,” he said in a brief statement.
He added “ we all know what the laws say on same sex marriage in Ghana and so let us all abide by the law.”
Mr Akufo-Addo, has stated that the legalisation of same-sex marriage will never happen in his time as President.
According to the President, “I have said this before, and let me, in conclusion, stress again that it will not be under the presidency of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that same-sex marriage will be legalised in Ghana. It will never happen in my time as President.”
President Akufo-Addo made this known on Saturday, 27th February 2021, when he attended the Installation and Enthronement ceremony of Rt. Rev Dr. Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith, as the 2nd Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Ghana, at Asante-Mampong, in the Ashanti Region.
This is not the first time the President has publicly made comments about the issue of same-sex marriage in Ghana.
It will be recalled that on 9th August 2018, at the 2018 Synod of the Global Evangelical Church, he stated that “let me assure that this Government has no plans to change the law on same-sex marriage. We have no authority, and we will not seek any authority to do so”.
According to Amb. Bishop Sam Owusu, the president’s statement has assured Ghanaians that government will never consider legalising lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ+) activities in Ghana as long as he is the President is most profound.
“President Akufo Addo’s statement follows reports of the opening of an LGBT community office in Accra which attracted condemnation from a number of Ghanaians, religious and civil society organizations. Although the office has since been closed down by government, the issue continues to attract a lot of anger among Ghanaians.
The Ghanaian media have been inundated with discussions as homosexuality is an affront to religion, tradition and criminal laws. The opening of an office to promote such violates our laws and cultural sensitivities. The society is governed by laws and same must be respected be respected.
“The UN Eminent Peace Ambassador opined that although everyone has the right to be accepted everywhere as a person, the conduct of such persons must be according to law.
“Society cannot develop when citizens are allowed to disregard and flout laws that are supposed to regulate behaviour and conduct. LGBT community need to understand that issues of human rights reflect the standards necessary for people to live with dignity.
“Human rights give people the freedom to choose how they live, how they express themselves, and what kind of government they want to support, among many other things.
“These and many other human rights related issues can only be achieved where laws of country are obeyed. He called on the Ghana police service to enforce the laws of the land without discrimination.
“Amb. Bishop Owusu also urge Ghanaians not to take the laws into their but report illegal activities of LGBT to the police for due process.He again, urge all Christian bodies to speak against the emergence of LGBT+ in Ghana for the sake of our children. He reiterated that any political party that will spear head the establishment of LGBT+ agenda in Ghana shall not be forgiven by the Ghanaian people.”
Source: 3news
