Ghana’s capital will today bustle with a march dubbed “Family Value March” aimed at registering displeasure at the apparent delay in court processes over the Anti-LGBTQ+ bill, further obstructing its assent by the President.
Protesters have started converging at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange clad in red and black outfits bearing placards that loudly pour out their disgust at the act.
Some placards have inscriptions that read “Every day of delay is an injustice,” “We stand for the family Allah Ordained,” “The people speak, time to listen,” “Marriage is between Adam and Hawa, not Adam and Steve or Hawa and Mariam,” “You were not produced out of homosexuality,” and more.
The protest is being joined by Ghanaians from various groups including the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, and politicians.
A letter issued by the Charismatic Council on October 5 invited all Pastors and congregations to participate in the Family Value March, noting that it is crucial for the protection of the innocence of children.
“We urge all Heads of Member Churches and Zonal Leaders to massively mobilize their congregations to partake in the march. Your presence and participation are invaluable in making a positive impact.”
Sam George, one of the proponents of the bill which was passed by parliament in February, believes the intervention of the Chief Justice will go a long way to deal with the delay and thereby the protest.
“The Chief Justice has the power to demand of all the parties in the case, that they file within the times stipulated in the Rules of Procedure, that you file a statement of claim within 14 days. All of this is clear and the Chief Justice is the one who has powers to ensure that. If everybody is going to take one year to file their documents, the Chief Justice thinks that that is a proper delivery of justice, where parties in the case will determine when and how they would be doing their filing. Justice delayed is justice denied and the expeditious delivery of justice is critical to an effective justice delivery system and so the Chief Justice has to be up and doing,” he told CitiNews.
One protester in an interview with the media stressed the need for the act to be outlawed as he called it a taboo.
“All religions are against the act. The court case in the first place is a taboo. Nana Addo and Bawumia should stop the hypocrisy. Their hypocrisy is drenching us in hardship. We are telling them we are against LGBTQ. We don’t want it here. He should take the case from court and assent to the bill,” Papa Wuli, Chairman of the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana said.
The protesters are scheduled to present their petition to the Attorney-General and the Chief Justice to demand a timetable for hearings on the cases currently before the Court.
The anti-LGBTQ bill criminalizes LGBTQ activities, promotion, advocacy, and funding, reflecting the stance taken by Ghana’s Parliament on this contentious issue.