Anti-LGBTQ+ bill: Don’t turn this into a political football – Sheikh Shaibu warns NDC and NPP

Spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, has cautioned political actors against turning the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill into a partisan contest between the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Speaking on Tuesday, Sheikh Shaibu expressed disappointment over the renewed political disagreements surrounding the controversial legislation, insisting that Ghana had already reached a broad national consensus on the issue.

His remarks follow recent public debate over the future of the bill after President John Dramani Mahama, during an engagement at Chatham House in London, stated that all constitutional and legislative procedures must be completed before any decision can be taken on the legislation.

The discussion has also been fuelled by comments from Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, who suggested that Parliament may need to revisit aspects of the bill’s passage before it proceeds further through the legislative process.

However, Sheikh Shaibu argued that the matter has already undergone extensive national consultation and debate, making further political contestation unnecessary.

“As a nation, there is no question regarding our unanimity on the anti-LGBTQ bill,” he said. “Both major political parties have stated their positions, religious bodies have made their views known, and Parliament under both the previous and current administrations has debated the issue extensively.”

According to him, the legislation had previously passed through Parliament and only required presidential assent before legal and procedural developments interrupted the process.

“What I know is that procedurally Parliament had passed the bill earlier. It only needed presidential assent, but certain legal processes prevented it from reaching the President’s table,” he stated.

Sheikh Shaibu said he had expected the current process to focus on facilitating the bill’s progress to the President for consideration, particularly in light of commitments made on the matter.

He expressed concern that the issue is increasingly becoming a source of political division.

“For us to arrive at a point where the Minority is taking one position and the Majority another is disappointing,” he said. “We should not politicise this matter because, from my perspective, it is not a political issue.”

The Islamic scholar maintained that opposition to LGBTQ+ practices reflects deeply held cultural and religious values shared by a broad section of Ghanaian society.

“LGBTQ in whatever form it takes is an attack on the family institution, which is the basic unit of society,” he stated.

He further argued that any effort to promote same-sex relationships should be viewed as a challenge to the values and structures that underpin society.

“As a people of culture, faith and religion, Ghanaians have been clear about their position on this matter,” he said.

Sheikh Shaibu therefore urged political leaders to avoid using the legislation as a tool for partisan competition and instead focus on ensuring that the process proceeds in a manner that reflects the views already expressed by the majority of Ghanaians.

“To turn this into a political debate between the Majority and Minority is, to say the least, very disappointing,” he added.