John Dramani Mahama has said he does not support the promotion of gay activities in the country because his faith as a Christian belonging to the Assemblies of God Church is against it.
Parliament, through a Private Members’ motion is considering a legislation on the activities of the LGBTQ community and persons in Ghana, a move that has seen oppositions to the bill that has enormous support from faith based organizations.
The Promotion of Proper Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill popularly known as the Anti-gay/LGBTQ bill has generated series of controversies since its introduction in Parliament with many describing it as draconian.
The bill is set to criminalize the promotion, advocacy, funding and acts of homosexuality. It stiffens prison terms up to ten years in prison for LGBTQ+ advocates and three years for anyone identifying as such. Moreover, the bill seeks to withdraw health services from this community, including HIV medication.
Speaking at a public forum with the clergy in Koforidua as part of his ‘Building Ghana Tour’ Wednesday, January 31, 2024, the former President said he is against the act since his faith doesn’t tell him to condone such.
“My faith as an Assemblies of God member is against LGBTQ. Because the faith I have does not support a man to marry a man and a woman marry a woman,” he indicated.
“I personally believe a man is a man and a woman is a woman. I don’t believe one can get up in a day and opt to change his gender because he feels like, so he’s going to change to become a woman when he has actually been born a man. Nature created us man and woman and God knew what he was doing when he created us like that. So my personal faith is against it,” he noted.
