President Nana Akufo-Addo has acknowledged the concerns raised by various quarters, including the diplomatic community and friends of Ghana, regarding the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill by Parliament.
This bill has been criticized for its potential to criminalize lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, as well as those who support or advocate for LGBT rights, including human rights defenders and other professionals.
“The Bill has raised considerable anxieties in certain quarters of the diplomatic community and amongst some friends of Ghana that she may be turning her back on her, hitherto, enviable, longstanding record on human rights observance and attachment to the rule of law.”
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-addo
President Akufo-Addo added that “I think it will serve little purpose to go, at this stage, into the details of the origin of this proposed law, which is yet to reach my desk.”
“But, suffice it to say, that I have learned that, today, a challenge has been mounted at the Supreme Court by a concerned citizen to the constitutionality of the proposed legislation.”
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-addo
According to President Akufo-addo, “Under the circumstances, it would be, as well, for all of us to hold our hands, and await the Court’s decision before taking any action. The operation of the Ghanaian state’s institutions will determine the future trajectory of the rule of law and human rights compliance in our country.”
Anti-gay Bill Sparks Criticism from Allies
Under the bill, individuals engaged in such activities face a jail term ranging from six months to three years, while promoters and sponsors could be sentenced to three to five years.
Before its passage, sponsors of the bill initiated a motion for further consideration, with lead sponsor Samuel Nartey George proposing amendments to clauses 10 and 11 concerning editorial policies of media firms, aligning them with Article 12 of the 1992 constitution, which guarantees freedom of the media.
However, a motion filed by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to subject clause 12, addressing the funding of LGBT activities, to the constitution was rejected by the House.
Parliament approved the bill that criminalizes LGBTQ+ activities, as well as their promotion, advocacy, and funding on February 28, 2024.
The Bill’s passage has attracted criticism from various stakeholders, including the international community like the USA, and USAID, among others.
In the meantime, Ghana’s Finance Ministry has warned that assenting to the bill will affect the country’s benefits from the Bretton Woods institutions.
In a press release issued on Monday, 4 March 2024, the ministry said Ghana stands to lose some $3.8 billion in financial support from the World Bank if President Nana Akufo-Addo assents to the bill.
Before the ministry’s alert, US Ambassador to Ghana Virginia Evelyn Palmer expressed concern that the measure would harm Ghana’s economy and reputation abroad.
“Some of the smartest, most creative, most decent people I know are LGBT, which saddens me. The bill that Parliament enacted violates the constitutional rights of all Ghanaians to freedom of speech, assembly, and the press, therefore taking away not just their fundamental human rights but also those of all Ghanaians.”
Virginia Evelyn Palmer, US Ambassador
This stance reflects the president’s commitment to upholding human rights principles, despite the controversy surrounding the bill. The decision to await the court’s judgment underscores a broader approach to governance and the rule of law, ensuring that legislative actions align with constitutional principles and international human rights standards.
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