We will fiercely resist gay rights bill - Majority Leader

The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Member of Parliament for Suame constituency, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu says they will strenously resist any attempt to place a Gay Rights Bill before the House.

According to him, "the country's social and cultural practices, frowns on such acts and Parliament will not be a conduit for its legalization".

Speaking on Okay Fm's Ade Akye Abia Programme, the Suame Legislator indicated that there is no “cultural orientation” that supports the practice in Ghana, thus it will not be tolerated.

Hon Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, who also doubles as the Majority Leader in Parliament, believes the president did not say err in his comments to warrant such fierce criticisms and verbal attack.

President Akufo-Addo, in an interview with Aljazeera’s Jane Dutton, said the country's culture and tradition for now does not allow the legalization of homosexuality, but was quick to add that if public opinion changes, the law may just be amended.

“This is a social, cultural issue, I don’t believe that in Ghana so far, a sufficiently strong coalition has emerged which is having that impact on public opinion that will say ‘change it, let’s now have a new paradigm in Ghana.’

“At the moment, I don’t feel, I don’t see that in Ghana there is that strong current of opinion that is saying this is something we need to deal with. It is not so far a matter that is on the agenda,” Nana Addo added.

Hon Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, who also doubles as the Majority Leader in Parliament, believes the president did not say err in his comments to warrant such fierce criticisms and verbal attack.

Siding with the president that this is not an issue that has so engaged the minds of Ghanaians, he stated; "I believe that we should be more focused on how we can help provide development for Ghanaians".

Christian Council angle

Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. Dr. Opuni Frimpong, believes that Ghana's culture and Family life System cannot accept same sex marriages.

"Homosexuality is not only a human rights issue, it is also about human existence and human survival....It threatens African Social Protection, which is deeply embedded in the Family and children, a practice that give us our cultural identity and uniqueness," he added.