A bill criminalizing LGBTQ+ people and their allies in Ghana drew international condemnation after it was passed by parliament on Thursday, with the United Nations calling it “extremely alarming” and urging it not to become law. I asked for it.
The bill expands criminal sanctions against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people simply for being who they are, UN High Commissioner for Humanity Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement. He said there was a risk of criminal penalties being imposed. People who are perceived as their allies.
“Consensual same-sex acts should never be criminalized…This bill, if passed, will undermine society and have a negative impact on society as a whole,” she said.
Bill to criminalize advancement of LGBTQ community in Ghana
The bill, passed by the West African country’s parliament on Wednesday, was first introduced three years ago. It criminalizes relationships, sexual acts, and public displays of affection between members of the LGBTQ+ community.
It also targets LGBTQ+ allies and the promotion and funding of LGBTQ+-related activities. Those found guilty could face up to 10 years in prison.
The bill was sent to the President’s desk for signature.
Speaker of the Ghanaian Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin, speaks at Parliament House in Accra, Ghana, on Wednesday, February 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Miss Per Appoo)
Ghana has generally been considered to have more respect for human rights than most African countries, but the bill has come under increasing international condemnation since it passed parliament.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Wednesday that the bill threatens Ghanaians’ freedom of speech, and that the United States is deeply concerned about the bill and is seeking a review of its constitutionality.
Attorney General and Minister of Justice Godfred Yeboah Dame said in a radio interview that he would not advise the president to sign into law any bill that does not comply with the constitution.
Audrey Gazekpo, president of the human rights group Center for Democratic Development, said she would continue to advocate for the bill to be scrapped, including going to court.
LGBTQ+ people in Ghana say they are worried not only for their own safety, but also for the safety of those around them, including healthcare workers.
“The passage of this bill shows me and all Ghanaians that our politicians do not respect our democracy. It also does not respect the many international rights treaties that it has signed over the years,” a gay man who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals told The Associated Press.
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“I don’t know how much longer I can live in a country that has treated me like a criminal,” she said.
