A group calling itself, Concerned Muslim Youth of Ghana (CMYG), has called on the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to distance himself from President Akufo-Addo's stance on homosexuality.
President Akufo-Addo recently was interviewed on Al Jazeera TV on legalizing same-sex marriage.
According to President Akufo-Addo, 'I don't believe that in Ghana, so far, a sufficiently strong coalition has emerged which is having that impact on public opinion that will say: 'Change it (law), let's then have a new paradigm in Ghana ".
"I grew up in England; I went to school as a young boy in England and I grew up at a time in England when homosexuality was banned there, it was illegal and lived in the period when British politicians thought it was anathema to think changing the law and suddenly the activities of individuals, of groups, a certain awareness, a certain development grew and grew and grew stronger and it forced a change in law. I believe those are the same processes that will bring about changes in our situation", he added.
But in a statement issued on December 1, 2017 by the leadership of Concerned Muslim Youth of Ghana, indicated that President Akufo-Addo's stance on homosexuality is against the values and teachings of Islam hence expected Dr. Bawumia as a Vice President and for that matter a Muslim to come out and declare his stance as to whether he backs the President or not.
According to the group, "We are not only appalled by the responses of the President, we are also scandalised that we have a Muslim Vice President and a Minister for Zongo Development who equally share this position with the President of Ghana".
"For the record, homosexuality is an abomination in Islam and we expect Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Alhaji Boniface Sadique Abubakar to resist the position of the President, if they are true Muslims who believe in the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed (PBHN)", the statement emphasized.
The group therefore called on Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Alhaji Boniface Saddique as a matter of urgency distance themselves from the comments of the President or "consider themselves fake Muslims who cannot provide moral leadership for the Muslim youth in Ghana".
Below is the full statement
We Are Shocked At Prez Stands On Homosexuality - Concern Moslem Youth
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Press Statement
We the Concerned Muslem Youth of Ghana are utterly shocked by recent comments made by President Nana Akufo-Addo to foreign press on the subject of homosexuality.
In that interview, the President subtly endorsed the abominable acts of gays and lesbians and indeed encouraged those in Ghana to form groups in order to agitate for its legalisation in the country.
Asked if he will endorse the legalisation of homosexuality in Ghana, the President Nana Akufo-Addo said, ‘’It is bound to happen".
We are not only appalled by the the responses of the President, we are also scandalised that we have a Muslem Vice President and a Minister for Zongo Development who equally share this position with the President of Ghana.
For the record, homosexuality is an abomination in Islam and we expect Dr. Mahmudu Bawumia and Alhaji Boniface Saddique Abubakar to resist the position of the President, if they are true Muslems who believe in the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed (PBHN).
It will be recalled that, Dr. Bawumia prior to the 2016 elections called on Ghanaians to vote for the NPP to bring religious balance to the Presidency. Today, Dr. Bawumia and Boniface Saddique Abubakar are looking on whiles Akufo-Addo is welcoming abominable ideas to the seat of government which is a total disregard for moslem values and teachings.
We are hereby condemning, in no uncertain terms, the subtle endorsement and encouragement of homosexuality in our country by President Akufo-Addo and the loud silence of our Muslem vice President and our Minister for Zongo Development.
We also call on Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Alhaji Boniface Saddique Abubakar to distance themselves from the comments of the President or consider themselves fake Muslems who cannot provide moral leadership for the moslem youth in Ghana.