Member of Parliament for Buem, Kofi Adams, has made a strong statement regarding the ongoing discourse surrounding the Anti-gay bill in Ghana.
According to him, the focus has shifted beyond mere religious declarations on the issue.
Adams pointed out that many reputable religious leaders in the country have already expressed their positions on the bill, making the religious stance well-known to Ghanaians. He emphasized the importance of now moving forward with the legislative process in order to fully implement the bill.
During a recent appearance on The Keypoints, the lawmaker emphasized the need for action in executing the legislative function to move the bill towards implementation. He specifically addressed Vice-President Dr. Bawumia’s recent comments aligning with the Islamic position on LGBTQI issues, stating that such religious declarations are no longer relevant to the current stage of the conversation.
Adams highlighted the importance of finalizing the legislative process, stating that the bill has been prepared and presented to the President for approval. He explained that the President’s role is to either sign or decline to sign the bill, bringing a definitive conclusion to the issue.
While there are currently two legal challenges against the bill in the Supreme Court, President Akufo-Addo has indicated that he will await the court’s ruling before making a final decision. However, Adams argued that these legal challenges should not hinder the President from taking action on the bill presented to him.
He referenced the President’s previous signing of the E-levy bill into law despite a pending court case against it, highlighting that legal disputes should not prevent the President from fulfilling his duties.
Adams accused President Akufo-Addo of intentionally delaying the process of signing the bill, stating that even if the President uses the legal challenges as a reason to not sign, he is required by law to inform Parliament, which can then proceed with the constitutionally mandated process of adopting a two-thirds majority to assent the bill.
