The controversial office of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) individuals was yesterday shut down to the relief of anxious Ghanaians, most of who oppose homosexual practices in the country.
The shutdown comes on the heels of the National Chief Imam Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu’s statement taking exception to the attempt by some Ghanaians to promote homosexual practice in the country, a condemnation having been shared by many groups and individuals including the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
Leading the charge on the office shutdown was Lawyer Moses Foh-Amoaning, Executive Secretary of the National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values, whose role in the anti-LGBTQI crusade was acknowledged in the Catholic Bishops’ statement.
Mr. Foh-Amoaning told the media that the order to shut down the office was made by President Akufo-Addo whose opposition to the subject, he said, was made by the Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister-designate, Adwoa Safo, during her turn at the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
A latent subject, the issue of gays and lesbians, has witnessed a long lull until recently when they reportedly opened an office in Accra.
The abhorrence for the subject accounted for the story going viral and the accompanying condemnation by most Ghanaians.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference in their statement demanded of the President to shut the office down.
The few persons supporting the homosexuals say the general treatment of their trait is an affront on their human rights.
A traditional authority in Accra has threatened to turn gays away when they attempt pitching camp in their area.
Chief Imam Says ‘No’
National Chief Imam Sheikh Sharubutu has said “no” to homosexual practices, deviant trait which he said contravened the tenets of the Islamic faith.
Speaking through his personal aide, Dr. Mohammed Marzuk Azindow, he said several verses in the Holy Quran referred to gay and lesbian behaviours.
Turning to one of the Quranic verses on the subject, the cleric quoted from the Chapter of Lut, which in the Christian faith is Lot, he said “we also sent Lut : He said to his people : Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? For ye practice your lusts on men in preference to women: Ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds.” (Quran 7:80-81)
Continuing he quoted, “What! Of all creatures do ye come unto the males, and leave the wives your Lord created for you? Nay, but ye are forward folk.” (Quran 26:165)
Lut is referred to as “Lot” in the Hebrew Scriptures.
The foregone was reference to the weird practices in Sodom and Gomorrah.
The Chief Imam said the consequences of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah was well known to both Muslims and Christians.
The Chief Imam also quoted the Holy Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, “When a man mounts on another man, the throne of God shakes.”
The Chief Imam explained that man in the foregone context was reference to a neuter, a collective name for humanity. “Therefore, the Hadith also means that when a woman mounts on another woman, the throne of God shakes,” he explained.
Homosexual practices by both male and female contravened the tenets of God and so should not be entertained under any circumstances, the Chief Imam said.
For those who support homosexual practices, the Chief Imam went on, “the consequence of HIV/AIDS is enough to prove that homosexuality is evil and dangerous to society. The early spread of AIDS was concentrated among the homosexual community. It later spread to the heterosexual and the so-called bisexual community through blood transfusions and intravenous drug usage.”
GPCC wants diplomats to explain
Meanwhile, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) has called on President Akufo-Addo to summon all foreign diplomats who allegedly participated in the opening of the LGBTQI offices in Ghana to explain their violation of the sovereignty of Ghana.
“We also call on Parliament as the representatives of the people to summon the President’s Representatives at the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior to explain to Ghanaians what actions they have taken in relation to this matter to protect the sovereignty and security of the State of Ghana,” a position statement signed by Rev. Prof. Paul Frimpong-Manso, President, on behalf of the national executive council said.
The GPCC also expressed their support to the call for a comprehensive legislation to deal with the LGBTQI issues in Ghana once and for all to settle any future controversies.
“The GPCC is very resolute in its stance against the LGBTQI movement and its activities in Ghana, and is standing firm with all other stakeholders on this matter with the hope that government will take concrete steps to reassure Ghanaians of their unwillingness to succumb to pressure from some notable western powers to sell out our cherished values and to safeguard the future of our children from a perverse generation of vampires scheming to destroy us,” it said.
By A.R. Gomda