COMOG PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE ACTIVITIES OF LGBTQI AND EUROPEAN UNION DELEGATION IN GHANA’S PROMOTIONS OF ITS ACTIVITIES: OUR CALL FOR IMMEDIATIATE ACTION.
Wednesday 24th February 2021
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the media fraternity, we welcome you to this press conference with the Islamic Salutation;
Assalaamu Alaikum
We have respectfully invited you to this Press Conference to address the Ghanaian Public, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Security Agencies and Diplomatic Missions in Ghana through your esteem media regarding our position on the infamous Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) activities in Ghana.
Momentarily, a lot of discussions regarding the freedoms and rights of members of the LGBTQI+ community has taken prominent space in the media with some well-meaning Ghanaians including His Eminence the National Chief Imam, the Conference of Catholic Bishops, and some Traditional Leaders clearly articulating their stance against the commissioning of an office in Accra for the coordination of activities of the LGBTQI+ community.
We, of the Coalition of Muslim Organisations, Ghana (COMOG) and as a member of the National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values, wish to indicate that we unflinchingly support the position of the National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values on the abhorrence of the activities of the LGBTQI+ community as unambiguously articulated by our Executive Secretary and Spokesperson at the recent press conference at the Calvary Methodist Church.
In a united voice with the National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values, the Office of the National Chief Imam, the Christian Council of Ghana, the Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Traditional Leaders, we unequivocally and in no uncertain terms call for the permanent closure of the LGBTQI+ office in Ghana, immediately.
Chapter 7 verse 80-84 of the Holy Qur’aan narrates the story of how Almighty God punished the people of Lot for the men satisfying their lust with men of their kind, in preference to women (i.e., practicing of homosexuality). Various quotations from the Holy Bible including Genesis, Leviticus, Judges, etc., explicitly show how Almighty God abhors the act of homosexuality and other deviant immoral acts.
OUR RIGHTS AND OUR VALUES.
In the 1992 constitution of Ghana, Articles 2b(1), 34(1) and Articles 39(1) and (3), enjoin “…the state to encourage the integration of appropriate customary laws and values in the fabric of National life…”
The United Nations Convention on Human Rights which has been ratified by our dear country Ghana protects the rights of Ghanaians to promote our valued socio-cultural rights, etc. In view of this, we cannot agree with some Human Rights activists who argue that the activities of the LGBTQI+ are pivoted on Human Rights.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, we strongly disclaim the activities of the LGBTQI+ as a Human Rights issue so far as their activities remain inimical to the culture, traditions, values and religious dispositions of this country just as polygamy is inimical to the culture, traditions and values of the West.
On this note, we take this opportunity to strongly caution the Leader of the EU Delegation in Ghana, the Australian High Commissioner to Ghana and all other diplomats who are attempting to induce our society with their abominable and reprehensive values to refrain immediately or face the wrath of Ghanaians instead of our notable hospitality which they want to take for granted.
LEGALITY OF LGBTQI IN GHANA
Under Section 104 of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960, Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, are provisions that criminalize consensual same-sex sexual acts between males. Under Section 104(1)(b) “unnatural carnal knowledge with consent” is considered a misdemeanor. What is not too conspicuous is the female act, which we are teaming up with all religious bodies including the Traditional bodies to sponsor a comprehensive bill on sexual behavior and activities to Parliament.
Many countries including Chad as recent as in 2017 have criminalized the existence of LGBTQI+ in their countries. Is it about time Ghana emulated same step?
Our Call
Ladies and Gentlemen, the attendance of the launch of the LGBTQI+ Community in Ghana and the strong support to that community by the European Union, Denmark and Australian reps in Ghana must not only be condemned but be sanctioned by our Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Thus the sector Minister must be summoned by the Parliament of Ghana on the issue.
The High Commissioner for Australia, the Danish Ambassador and Head of EU Delegation to Ghana must come out within 7 days to apologize to Ghanaians and assure us of their respect for our values, traditions and cultural and religious beliefs that vehemently abhor the practice of LGBTQI+.
The failure to adhere to the above call will spur the good people of Ghana to exhibit our wrath at them through a mammoth demonstration.
We call on the Security Agencies to arrest and prosecute the promoters of LGBTQI in Ghana.
We also call on the Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to call the Foreign Missions and Agencies supporting the inimical LGBTQI+ agenda in Ghana to order.
We call on government to support and work with various religious, traditional bodies and health agencies to establish an outfit that serves as a Centre to help LGBTQI+ persons to provide them with the needed holistic treatment to curb their deviant feelings and unorthodox sexual tendencies.
We call on the Parliament of Ghana to condemn the involvement of the above named foreign missions in Ghana for promoting this LGBTQI+ agenda that the Ghanaian society frowns upon and considered illegal by our statute books.
Finally, we wish to call on all Ghanaians to rally behind the National Coalition of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values to stop this alien culture in our country.
Ladies and Gentlemen. Let us purge our country of this LGBTQI+ menace to merit and receive the pleasure and blessings of the Almighty God, instead of His anger and punishment.
As we urge Ghanaians to pray for God’s intervention in this matter, we call on all Imams to use their pulpits to educate our youth and enjoin them to stay away from these abominable LGBTQI+ acts.
We desire and want Halaal (Lawful) cooperation and partnerships with the world for the protection of life and the preservation of human dignity.
Thank you for your attendance and attention.
Address by:
Hajj Abdel Manan Abdel Rahman
President, COMOG
