European Union reiterates support for LGBTQI groups in Ghana

The European Union (EU) has confirmed it participated in the opening of a new office space for a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender and Queer Intersex (LGBTQI) rights group in Accra, reiterating its support for similar organisations.

The group, LGBT+ Rights Ghana on January 31, 2021, hosted a fundraiser to officially introduce and promote its office and community space.

In attendance at the fundraiser were some invited guests including the Australian High Commissioner, His Excellency Gregory Andrews, the Danish Ambassador, His Excellency Tom Nørring and some delegates from the EU.

In a post on Facebook, the EU in Ghana posted: "A couple of weeks ago the EU in Ghana participated in the opening of the new community space of the @LGBTRightsGhana. Equality, tolerance and respect for each other are core values of the EU. The EU supports civil society organisations promoting #LGBTIQ rights 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈. #EU4LGBT".

Group calls for closure of office

Meanwhile, the Ghana News Agency reports that the National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values, a group which advocates against the activities of the LGBTQI movement in Ghana is calling for the office to be shut down.

The Ghana News Agency reports that the Executive Secretary of the Coalition, Moses Foh-Amoaning said the alleged existence of the office was illegal and an affront to the laws, traditions and customs of the country and must be shut down.

He explained that Ghana as a country had not signed any international laws permitting the promotion of LGBTQI activities in the country therefore, any attempt by anyone to promote the activities of the group amounted to illegality.

Mr Foh-Amoaning noted that on the contrary, international laws such as the Economic, Cultural, Social and Political Rights of the United Nations treaty, which the country had ratified, protected the sovereignty of Ghana to defend its cultural values.

He accused the international community in Ghana for promoting an act which he said was alien to the customs and traditions of Ghanaians and infringed on the sovereignty of the state.

Mr Foh-Amoaning called on the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to swiftly move in to close down the said office and also arrest and prosecute persons found to have breached the laws of the state.

He appealed to Parliament to quickly move and pass comprehensive legislation to deal effectively with the issue.

“We call on all state agencies including Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the Ghana AIDS Commission, the police, politicians and the media to take all steps to protect our nation from the negative impact of this LGBTQI,” he said.

Most Reverend Philip K. Naameh, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference described the LGBTQI agenda as a “complete disorder of the fundamental law of God in creating man and woman.”

“The LGBTQI is a clear departure from God’s purpose of creation because the woman was not created to be an object of pleasure for man,” he said adding that the Catholic as a Church would only continue to recognise marriages between a man and a woman to ensure that God’s purpose of creation materialized.

A representative from the Christian Council of Ghana, The Reverend Godwin Amuzu, urged Ghanaians to remain resolute in maintaining the culture and sanctity of the State as believers in God.

The Reverend Johnny Apeakorang, who represented the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches, said the Association would continue to render its support to the Coalition to ensure that its goal was achieved.

The Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values is an amalgamation of Christian and Para-Christian bodies, Muslims, Non-Religious entities, Traditional rulers and opinion leaders in Ghana.

The Coalition aimed at ensuring the preservation of indigenous African traditional and cultural sexual rights and family values.

It has been a strong advocate against the LGBTQI movement in Ghana since its inauguration in December 2013.

A couple of weeks ago the EU in Ghana participated in the opening of the new community space of the @LGBTRightsGhana.

Equality, tolerance and respect for each other are core values of the EU. The EU supports civil society organisations promoting #LGBTIQ rights 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈.#EU4LGBT pic.twitter.com/1BLgnoWDQB

— European Union Ghana (@EuropeInGhana) February 16, 2021