The President of Ghana has promised religious leaders he has no plans to decriminalise homosexuality in the African nation, despite saying it was inevitable that it would eventually happen.

Nana Akufo-Addo became the country’s President back in January and had has previously said it it inevitable that homosexuality will be decriminalised. Currently gay men can be sentenced to three years imprisonment.

The President has previously spoken about his experiences of being educated in Britain and seeing the laws changed.

However this week in a speech to the 2018 Synod of the Global Evangelical Church Akufo-Addo said he would not be changing the laws.

“The Church and the Government have to work together since we have the same aim. There should be no doubt in anybody’s mind that the men of God have the moral authority to hold the political leadership to scrutiny.

“It is important that we do not debase the principles we purport to uphold.”

He added: “I do not hesitate to state openly that I am a Christian in politics, and will continue to be so, a politician who is deeply influenced by Christian values… let us join hands together and build the happy and prosperous Ghana we all want. It is well within our reach.

“And, let me assure that this Government has no plans to change the law on same-sex marriage. We have no authority, and we will not seek any authority to do so.”

In the local press decriminalising homosexuality and allowing same-sex marriage are often conflated as the same issue, and the President’s latest remarks have been taken to be a promise to leave homosexuality as a criminal offence.

OIP Staff