Haruna Iddrisu opposes LGBTQ+ practices, says it’s repugnant to Muslim values and ethics

Haruna Iddrisu, Ghana’s Minister-Designate for Education, has firmly opposed LGBTQ+ practices, describing them as inconsistent with his personal, religious, and cultural values.

During his appearance before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on January 20, 2025, Iddrisu reiterated his stance, rooted in his Muslim faith and Ghana’s moral framework. “It’s a cultural wrong,” he stated. “With my religion as a Muslim, you know where I stand on this matter. It is repugnant to my Muslim values and ethics.”

Iddrisu emphasised the importance of preserving Ghana’s cultural and moral heritage, asserting that the country has the right to define and uphold its values.

“We’re a country, and we define our values, both social and cultural, and we should expect all other persons to respect those values,” he said. “I do not want to believe that many a Ghanaian parent would want their children trained in a way that is not consistent with the way I and you were brought up as Ghanaians.”

This follows President John Dramani Mahama’s proposal to reintroduce the anti-LGBTQ+ bill as a government-sponsored initiative rather than a private member’s bill. Meeting with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference on January 14, 2025, President Mahama argued that a government-backed approach would lend the bill greater legitimacy and improve its chances of being passed by Parliament.

Iddrisu echoed the sentiment, noting that preserving Ghana’s values is a collective responsibility within the framework of the nation’s constitution. “We’re a country; we have our own values, and we have a duty to preserve those values within the ambit of the constitution,” he concluded.