Ghana Is in Hardship Already...Don't Bequeath to Us a Legacy of LGBTQ Too - Atik Cautions Akufo-Addo
Atik Mohammed has condemned the pressure from the international community on President Nana Akufo-Addo not to assent to the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
Ghana's Parliament has passed the anti-LGBTQ+ bill to outlaw the activities of homosexuals, however it awaits presidential assent before it becomes law.
Following the passage of the bill, countries like the United States have threatened to stop lending Ghana their support if the President doesn't cancel it.
The US ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Evelyn Palmer says the bill is an infringement on the rights and freedom of the LGBTQ+ society.
“I am saddened because some of the smartest, most creative, most decent people I know are LGBT. The bill Parliament passed takes away not only their basic human rights but those of all Ghanaians because it undermines their constitutional rights to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of the press. It will be bad for public order and public health. If enacted, it will also hurt Ghana’s international reputation and Ghana’s economy,” she wrote on the embassy’s X (formerly twitter) page.
President Akufo-Addo also seems to be dilly-dallying with the bill as he issued a statement saying "a challenge has been mounted at the Supreme Court by a concerned citizen to the constitutionality of the proposed legislation. In the circumstances, it would be, as well, for all of us to hold our hands, and await the decision of the Court before any action is taken. The operation of the institutions of the Ghanaian state will determine the future trajectory of the rule of law and human rights compliance in our country."
Addressing the issue, Atik Mohammed blasted the western world for trying to force Ghana to denounce its cultural values.
He described this as "cultural imperialism", stating "it is the next face of imperialism and it's something that every sovereign State endeavors to resist".
He questioned the United States and other countries pressuring Ghana to disregard the bill why they are not exerting the same energy on Russia and the Arab countries where LGBTQ+ has been completely outlawed and offenders face death penalties.
"Why don't they go to Russia to preach these things? It has been outlawed in Russia. When you to a lot of the Arab countries, this abomination has been outlawed. Why are they not taking their advocacy there? Why are they not taking their threats there?", he fumed.
To Atik, President Akufo-Addo should sign the bill and "damn" the consequences thereof.
"Already, we are in hardship. You are not bequeathing to us a strong economy. You cannot bequeathed to us a legacy of LGBTQ", he told Presenter Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, adding "Ghana is blessed with all kinds of things, what remains is leadership...As a matter of fact, we should be working ourselves away from aid".
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