Ohemaa Mercy, known offstage as Mercy Twum-Ampofo and regarded as one of Ghana’s most successful gospel artistes, says people involved in homosexuality should be treated with love.
She believes showing compassion is the most effective way to help them turn away from what she describes as a spiritual issue.
“It takes God to deliver someone from homosexuality,” she said during an appearance on Starr Chat with Bola Ray.
“We need to draw those involved closer and speak to them with care,” she added.
Her remarks come at a time when the Akufo-Addo administration is facing increasing pressure from international leaders, including UK Prime Minister Theresa May, to relax Ghana’s stance on homosexuality.
During the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, May told President Akufo-Addo and other African leaders that persecuting people for their sexual orientation is wrong. Her comments prompted the National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values to insist it would resist any attempt to legalise homosexuality in Ghana amid pressure from Western nations.
At the 43rd General Council Meeting on May 2, Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah, former Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, also warned government that legalising homosexuality would face strong opposition.
He described the push for LGBT acceptance by some Western leaders as a form of neo-colonialism and urged that it be rejected. He added that Africans must recognise what is right for their societies and emphasised that the church in Ghana remains steadfast in opposing such moves, even vowing to protest should the pressure on national leaders continue.
