The spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, has urged political leaders to avoid turning the controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill into a political contest between the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday monitored by Newspyramid.com, Sheikh Shaibu expressed disappointment over the renewed partisan disagreements surrounding the proposed legislation, insisting that the matter transcends party politics and already reflects the collective position of many Ghanaians.
According to him, the issue should not become another platform for political point-scoring, stressing that the country has already held extensive national discussions on the subject.
“And I hope that we will not politicize this matter because the issue we are dealing with is not a political matter.” He said
His comments come in the wake of renewed public debate over the future of the proposed legislation following President John Mahama’s recent remarks at Chatham House in London.
President Mahama had indicated that all constitutional and legislative procedures must be duly followed before any proposed bill can be presented to him for presidential assent.
The conversation surrounding the bill was further intensified after Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin suggested that both the Majority and Minority caucuses may need to reconsider aspects of the legislation before it proceeds through the next stages of the parliamentary process.
However, Sheikh Shaibu maintained that the matter had already undergone broad national engagement and should not be reopened for partisan contestation.
The Islamic scholar further argued that his opposition to LGBTQ+ practices is rooted in what he described as the need to protect the family institution, which he considers the foundation of society.
“From my perspective, and based on my consistent position in discussions on this subject, LGBTQ practices, in whatever form they take, constitute an attack on the family institution, which is a sacred unit of society, LGBT in whatever form it takes is an attack on the family institution, which is a sacred unit of society.” He said.
He explained that every society is built around the family structure, made up of a man and a woman raising children, adding that preserving that system remains important to the moral and social development of communities.
”Every human being is born into a family made up of a man and a woman who give birth to children, and that is how societies are formed.” He stated.
Sheikh Shaibu’s remarks add to the ongoing national conversation surrounding the proposed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, which continues to generate reactions from political leaders, religious groups, civil society organisations, and sections of the Ghanaian public.
Source: Newspyramid.com
