Prof. Smart Sarpong, a seasoned researcher at Kumasi Technical University, has expressed reservations about pressuring President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to immediately assent to the anti-LGBTQ+ bill. This comes in the wake of Parliament’s unanimous passing of the bill on February 27, aiming to uphold Ghana’s traditional human sexual rights and family values.
The bill, which criminalizes any form of promotion, advocacy, or engagement in homosexuality, imposes significant penalties, including a jail term ranging from 6 months to 5 years for offenders.
While there is mounting pressure on the President to sign the bill into law, the international community has raised concerns, condemning it as deeply harmful and violative of human rights. Both the US ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Evelyn Palmer, and High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, have urged the President to reconsider his stance on the bill.
Despite these calls, a significant portion of Ghanaians support the bill and have urged President Akufo-Addo to promptly endorse it. Notably, prominent lawyer and Executive Secretary for the National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values, Moses Foh-Amoaning, cautioned the President about potential repercussions if he fails to sign the bill, suggesting political consequences for him and his New Patriotic Party.
However, in a discussion on Peace FM’s morning show “Kokrokoo,” Prof. Smart Sarpong advocated for patience and thorough scrutiny of the bill before expecting the President’s assent. He emphasized the importance of allowing the President time to review the bill, asserting that it is crucial for him to understand its implications fully.
“While urging caution, Prof. Sarpong underscored the necessity for the President to prioritize the interests of the majority, noting that the bill aims to protect the collective values of Ghanaians. He stressed that the bill is not intended to target the minority but rather safeguard the beliefs of the vast majority of citizens.
“In essence,” he concluded, “the President should exercise due diligence in assessing the bill and act accordingly, as it serves to uphold the convictions of the majority, which constitute approximately 99 percent of Ghanaians
