Parliament urged to pass the anti-gay Bill

Parliament has been urged to take urgent steps to pass the anti-gay Bill into law.

Apostle Joseph Mensah, General Overseer of Christ Resurrection Church, who made the call, said Ghanaians were eagerly waiting for members of Parliament (MPs) to swiftly pass the Bill for the President to assent to it.

The controversial anti-LGBTQ Bill was sent back to Parliament as a private member’s Bill after failing to get the executive of the previous administration to assent to it.

Speaking at the 40^th anniversary celebration of the church at Kotei, in the Oforikrom Municipality, Apostle Mensah pointed out that, it was important for the Christian community to sustain the pressure to get the Bill passed and subsequently assented to by the President.

The 40th anniversary is to help showcase the achievements of the church over the years.

The church, over the last 40 years, has helped to improve the welfare of members, supported needy students in the church and communities in its catchment area.

At the dissolution of the previous parliament, all Bills that were in the legislative process and others awaiting Presidential assent were dropped.

For the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, former President, Nana Akufo-Addo, did not sign it into law, citing legal challenges.

The Bill, which prescribes a three-year jail term for people, who identify as gay, and five to 10 years for promoters and advocates is widely condemned by the international community.

Apostle Mensah declared his strong opposition to the practice of homosexuality in the country, saying he is “strictly” against the practice and, therefore, cannot support it.

He also referenced the stance of the country’s cultural norms and other religious groups, especially Christianity, against it.

“First of all, it is important to note that our cultural and societal norms and values as Ghanaians, frown on the practice of homosexuality.

I personally cannot support that which my religion, and indeed all the major religions in Ghana clearly and unequivocally forbid”, he stated.