Regarding the contentious Human Sexual Rights and Ghana Family Values Bill, better known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has encouraged Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin and President Nana Akufo-Addo to work together to ensure that the people’s desire is carried out.
The transfer of the Bill from Parliament to the Presidency is currently at a standstill.
The Speaker of Parliament blocked the approval of new ministry nominees, citing a legal case, while the President stopped the anti-gay measure from being transmitted.
Many Ghanaians are discouraged by this impasse and wonder why the two branches of government cannot cooperate to protect the nation’s cultural systems and values.
The President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Reverend Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, emphasized in a media interview the necessity of cooperation between the Legislature and the Executive branch for the good of the public.
The majority of Ghanaians, he said, favor the Bill, and he pleaded with President Akufo-Addo to honor the people’s choice as represented by their legislators.
“We’re surprised that at this time the President has not signed it yet. People can go and make their cases anywhere, anytime but as to whether the President should listen to Supreme Court orders of some individuals’ presentations, before he assents or not we don’t know if the law provides for that.”
“When this law has come from the people and it has been passed by Parliament, I do not find any basis the President will stand on it and say he will not assent to the Bill.”
“We call on them to do what is law, what the Constitution provides because they are making all of us worried. This one is a novelty, that is why we are not sure whether there’s a provision for that. If there’s no provision why should the President wait,” Reverend Gyamfi quizzed.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu
