ACCRA — The presidential candidate of Ghana’s ruling party, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, said on Thursday that he opposed the “practice of homosexuality,” a position he promised to maintain if elected in December.
President Nana Akufo-Addo faces pressure to sign one of Africa’s laws harsher anti-LGBTQ billswhich was criticized by human rights advocates and the United Nations.
Speaking at prayers marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Bawumia did not refer to the bill but said: “It is important to note that our cultural and social norms and values, as Ghanaians, frown upon the practice of homosexuality.
“All major religious traditions in Ghana oppose this practice and I oppose it now and I will oppose it as president,” he said, outlining his position as a candidate for the first time.
Bawumia’s main presidential rival, former President John Dramani Mahama, made similar comments in January.
His views will be appreciated by many in the culturally conservative West African country, where gay sex is already punishable by up to three years in prison and LGBTQ people routinely faces harassment and abuse.
Ghanaian activist Angel Maxine, who is a transgender woman, said Bawumia’s stance was “very dangerous and homophobic”.
“This is…political propaganda and LGBTQ+ lives should not be used as a tool of distraction and political point-scoring,” she said in a message.
In February, parliament unanimously approved a bill that will intensify the suppression of LGBTQ rights and punish those who promote lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender identities.
Supporters of the bill have been pushing for its enactment, despite a warning from the ministry of finance which could put $3.8 million in World Bank financing at risk and derail a $3 billion International Monetary Fund loan package.
The president’s office said it is awaiting the outcome of two legal challenges before approving the law for Akufo-Addo.
If it goes into effect, the bill will mean that those found guilty of “intentionally promoting, sponsoring or supporting LGBTQ activities” will face up to five years in prison.
The United Nations said in 2021 that the then-billed bill would create “a system of discrimination and state-sponsored violence” against the LGBTQ community in the West African country.
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