Report by Akpeleasi Flora- 21/03/2024

In an interview on AIT TV’s Morning Dew show, Dr. Ebenezer Arthur Duncan, a prominent member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), lecturer, and marketing consultant, expressed his views on the contentious and highly debated LGBTQ+ Bill in Ghana, calling for Vice President Bawumia to publicly state his position.

Dr. Duncan began by addressing speculations surrounding Vice President Bawumia’s stance on the LGBTQ+ Bill, stating, “You asked of doc Bawumia declaring his stance, you see the truth is me as I sit here, I know Bawumia personally doesn’t support it.” He cited Bawumia’s religious beliefs as a potential factor influencing his stance but emphasized the need for clarity, adding, “because of his religion, but I was taken aback when Amin Anta came out.”

Highlighting the unexpected support from Amin Anta, whom he described as “a strong Muslim,” Dr. Duncan expressed surprise at Anta’s stance against the bill, stating, “Amin Anta is also an alhaji oo, he is a strong Muslim came out to say that, the President shouldn’t sign the LGBTQ+ Bill else the country is going to lose 3.8 billion.”

Expressing skepticism about the motives behind delaying the bill’s signing, Dr. Duncan voiced concerns about potential influence from the LGBTQ+ community, asserting, “The perception is that because they are waiting for some kind of support from the gay community, that is why they don’t want the President to sign now, which is not the best.”

Taking a firm stance against accepting financial support from the LGBTQ+ community, Dr. Duncan revealed his strong disapproval, stating, “I belong to some platform, I curse or poured libation that look, anyone who will take money from the gay community should lose abysmally. Why would you go and take money from gay people before you come and do your campaign.”

While acknowledging the severity of the issue, Dr. Duncan compared Ghana’s proposed penalties for LGBTQ+ activities to those in Nigeria, suggesting a need for perspective, “As for lessening some of the punishment well I am not in a good position to talk about that but what we have read, Nigeria has a harsher punishment than what we are doing.”

Emphasizing the importance of prioritizing Ghana’s development over external aid, Dr. Duncan dismissed the significance of potential financial losses, stating, “This 3.8 is a peanut and we shouldn’t waste our time on it.”

In conclusion, Dr. Duncan urged Vice President Bawumia and other influential figures to follow the lead of those who have already declared their stance on the bill, asserting, “Bawumia should come out and declare his stance on it. J.M has done it, all other eminent people should come out, our papa chief imam has come out and all other civil society are against it.”

As the debate over the LGBTQ+ Bill continues to divide opinion in Ghana, Dr. Duncan’s impassioned plea for transparency and decisive action from political leaders underscores the gravity of the issue at hand.