The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) has expressed shock with the Finance Ministry’s plea to President Nana Akufo-Addo not to assent the anti-LGBTQ+ bill into law.

In an interview on Adom FM Burning Issues, the General Secretary of GPCC, Reverend Immanuel Tettey stated the Ministry’s caution was out of place and must be resisted.

According to him, the proposed legislation is crucial to upholding Ghana’s cultural values and independence from external influence.

Reverend Tettey stressed that there are countries with worse forms of punishment for people who engage in LGBTQI+ activities, but are doing well and have kept their relationships with other multilateral agencies.

“Kenya, Senegal and other countries have more stringent measures yet the IMF is lending its support. So I can’t fathom why the Ministry of Finance will come out with this. Besides this Bill was in parliament way before the IMF negotiations started and it was not part of the conditions,” he stated.

The Bill which criminalizes and prohibits LGBTQI+ activities, was approved on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.

It has sparked criticism from various quarters, including prominent figures like Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, the Board Chair of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), and other groups coupled with threats of legal action.

It is expected to land on the President’s desk within the week, but the Ministry on Monday cautioned Ghana could lose more than 3 billion dollars in external financing if passed into law.

Meanwhile, Akufo-Addo has said he is awaiting a ruling of the Supreme Court to decide on the Bill as it is currently being challenged.

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Listen to Reverend Tettey in the video attached above:

Speaking on Adom FM Burning Issues, the General Secretary, Reverend Immanuel Tettey stated the bill will help to uphold the values that are important to the people of Ghana.

He, therefore, noted none of the religions and Ghanaians at large will sit aloof and accept anything that frowns on morals and values.

Reverend Tettey made these comments in reaction to the Finance Ministry’s caution for the President not to sign the bill which was passed on Wednesday February 28, 2024.

Even though Akufo-Addo has said he is yet to receive the controversial bill, the Ministry on March 4 said it could lead to severe repercussions on the country’s financial support from international organisations like the Bretton Woods Institutions.

But Reverend Tettey has emphasised the importance of upholding Ghana’s unique cultural, and family values and has urged the President to serve the interest of Ghanaians by assenting to the bill.

“The 275 MPs in parliament did not get there by themselves; they are representatives of the people and we are all saying we don’t like LGBTQI+ activities.

“But if they decide not to listen to us, we will advice ourselves in the upcoming election. We will ask our people to reject anyone who wants to ignore our moral, values and impose what we don’t like on us,” he cautioned.

ALSO READ:

• Akufo-Addo speaks on anti-LGBTQI+ bill

• Don’t assent to Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill – Finance Ministry tells Akufo-Addo

• Anti-LGBTQI+ bill: Finance Ministry’s statement a lobbying attempt – Prof Gatsi

According to President of the Council, Prof Paul Frimpong-Manso, the church is now ready to lead the fight.

“We are leading the fight; the fight is in four phases. First, accepting our challenges and weaknesses, pledging that we won’t be part of it, telling the people that it is wrong [to engage in galamsey].

“The church is also telling the people in authority that they should do the right thing. Finally, [we are] coming out to protest in our numbers to tell the world that galamsey is destroying our river bodies,” he said on Thursday, October 13.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Council are expected to visit some galamsey sites to see for themselves the level of destruction of water bodies and forests.

Operation Halt II

Government has handed a “comprehensive list” of all licensed small-scale mining companies across the country to the Military High Command.

This forms part of new measures instituted as part of Operation Halt II to ensure illegal mining ceases in forest reserves and water bodies.

At a press briefing to provide updates on the fight against the menace on Thursday, October 13, Mr Jinapor stressed that this new operation will be sustainable and shall continue “until we get to a satisfactory situation with respect to illegal small-scale mining.”

“We have provided the Military High Command a comprehensive list of all licensed, lawful small-scale mining operations across the country. So even before they moved, we formally lodged it with the Minister of Defence for onward submission to the Military High Command.

“As they [soldiers] are in the field, they have the records of licensed small-scale miners and they are able to tell that this particular operation is not licensed, is not lawful and therefore it’s a ‘galamsey’,” he stated.

There are chief inspectors of mines and criminal investigation operatives to ensure that evidence is collected as the operation unfolds for purposes of prosecution, the Minister disclosed.

He stated unequivocally that no politician or person in high authority would be allowed to interfere with the work of the Operation Halt II teams.

“Nobody is allowed to intervene. I, as the Minister, am not allowed to call the military to say ‘please don’t go to this concession’. That discretion is not given to anybody; they are to use their own professional security expert judgement take on this matter.

“They will be responsible and accountable to the Minister of Defence, the President and ultimately the Ghanaian people.

“So if things go wrong in the course of operation, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, to a large extent, will not be held accountable; it is the Military High Command which would be held accountable,” he clarified.