The president of the Christian Council of Ghana has called on Christians, politicians, and the general public to resist any temptation to embrace the “abominable act” of homosexuality in the name of tolerance or human rights.

Addressing the media Monday in Accra, Ghana, the Rev. Dr. Fred Deegbe, General Secretary of the council, called on Christians to vote against any politician who support the “ungodly and unnatural act” of homosexuality.

Deegbe expressed fear that God would judge the nation if laws were changed to make homosexuality acceptable and said “the consequences will be unbearable.”

In Ghana, homosexuality is illegal and considered a misdemeanor. However, the law doesn't prevent some gays from living openly.

The Christian leader said influences from Western culture is to blame for the presence of gays and lesbians in Ghana and said the movement needed to be condemned.

“We Ghanaians and for that matter Africans cherish our rich and strong values on issues such as homosexuality and we must not allow anyone or group of people to impose what is acceptable in their culture on us in the name of human rights,” Deegbe said.

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Dr. Opoku Onyinah, chairman of the Ghana Pentecostal Council, also assured those struggling with homosexuality that the church was there to help them, not punish them, according to the Ghana News Agency.

“We do not by our condemnation of the practice asking (sic) communities to either stone or kill those who are found to be homosexuals,” Deegbe also told Kenyan newspaper the Daily Nation.

He further told the publication that “as Christians we are not stigmatizing homosexuals and do not want them to be victimized. But, we want to accept them and provide the necessary help they may require to heal them.”

The Christian Council of Ghana is comprised of several local churches and denominations, including Methodist, Episcopalian, and Presbyterian.

Ghana reportedly had its first anti-gay protest last year when about one thousand protesters rallied against reports of gay and lesbian activities in their city, according to the United States Department of State.