Dennis Miracles Aboagye, spokesperson for Dr. Bawumia’s campaign team has made a case for those raising concerns about the Human and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021, otherwise known as the Anti-Gay/LGBTQ bill.
He says the issues being raised about the bill should be looked at, albeit it coming from a minority group.
Mr. Aboagye says as a Ghanaian who respects the values and culture of the land, together with his faith as a Christian, he does not support LGBTQ, its supporters or promoters, but wants those having issues with certain provisions in it to be given a fair hearing.
He said on the KeyPoints on TV3 Saturday, March 23, 2024, that it is wrong for people to create the impression that anybody, –either from the Majority or Minority –is in support of homosexuality since they both came together to enact the bill.
“If you listen across the country, unanimously, there may be a view, but that’s the minority view, there are few people who advocate for some of these things, but generally, our traditional system do not support gayism. Islam doesn’t support gayism; I’m a Christian, I do not support gayism so nobody should ever create that impression at this point either from the NDC or NPP that supports gayism. We are not and that’s why we have come together to pass the law but people have issues with the law, why don’t you want to listen to them? The issues that the people have are the reasons why they’ve gone to court. What is the rush? Why don’t you allow these people to also have a fair hearing? I have read the writ of Richard Sky and the others and they are not against the passage of the law. They’re against specific areas of the law,” he indicated.
President Akufo-Addo has refused to act on the Anti-gay bill following two writs in the Supreme Court saying he will do that after the court has ruled on the matters.
Some private citizens have raised concerns on the bill that was passed by Parliament Wednesday, March 28, 2024, and petitioned the Supreme Court to restrict the Speaker from carrying out his duties on the bill.
Portions of their writ is also seeking a relief to restrict the President from signing the bill.
The Executive Secretary of the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, has, in a letter addressed to the Clerk of Parliament said the bill should not be transmitted to the Presidency for Executive assent.
Asante Bediatuo warns Parliament to desist from attempts to submit Anti-Gay bill to Presidency
The Speaker, in response to the directive, has subsequently, in the President’s own words, indicated that for the respect for the rule of law, he is also discontinuing the approval of ministerial nominees until a case filed against it at the apex court has been determined.
“Be that as it may, Hon Members, I also bring to your attention, the receipt of a process from the Courts titled Rockson-Nelson Etse K. Dafeamekpor vrs. The Speaker of Parliament and the Attorney -General ( Suit no. J1/12/2024) which process was served on the 19th of March 2024 and an injunction motion on notice seeking to restrain the Speaker from proceeding with the vetting and approval of the names of the persons submitted by His Excellency the President until the provisions of the constitution are satisfied.
“Hon. Members in the light of this process, the House is unable to continue to consider the nominations of His Excellency the President in the “spirit of upholding the rule of law “ until after the determination of the application for interlocutory injunction by the Supreme Court,” he said.
