
Haruna Iddrisu, Ghana’s Education Minister-Designate, has reiterated his strong opposition to LGBTQ+ practices, citing their inconsistency with his personal values, religious beliefs, and the nation’s cultural framework.
Speaking during his vetting by the Parliamentary Appointments Committee on January 20, 2025, Iddrisu expressed his unwavering stance on the matter. “It’s a cultural wrong. As a Muslim, you know where I stand on this issue. It is repugnant to my religious values and ethics,” he stated.
He further underscored the importance of preserving Ghana’s moral and cultural heritage, emphasizing that these values are fundamental to the upbringing of the country’s youth. “I do not believe many Ghanaian parents would want their children raised in ways that contradict the traditions and principles we were brought up with. The notion that a man can relate to a man or a woman to a woman is inconsistent with our values as Ghanaians,” Iddrisu argued.
His remarks align with the broader national conversation surrounding LGBTQ+ rights and legislation. On January 14, 2025, during a meeting with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Accra, President John Dramani Mahama proposed a new approach to advancing the Anti-LGBTQ+ bill. He suggested that the bill, currently a private member’s initiative, should instead be introduced as a government-sponsored bill.
President Mahama explained that government sponsorship would lend greater legitimacy to the bill and enhance its prospects of gaining approval in Parliament.
Iddrisu, addressing the matter during his vetting, emphasized Ghana’s sovereignty in defining and safeguarding its cultural and moral standards. “We are a nation with our own values, and we have a responsibility to uphold and protect those values within the framework of our constitution. These values should be respected by all,” he concluded.
The debate over LGBTQ+ rights continues to evoke significant public discourse in Ghana, reflecting a complex intersection of cultural, religious, and constitutional considerations.
Source: GhanaFeed.Com