Ghana Intensifies Crackdown on Rights of LGBTQ People and Activists

This originally appeared at THE GUARDIAN.

Proposed new laws carry the risk of up to five years of imprisonment for individuals found guilty of deliberately endorsing, sponsoring, or backing LGBTQ+ initiatives.

Ghana’s parliament recently approved legislation that further restricts the rights of LGBTQ individuals and those advocating for non-conventional sexual or gender identities within the West African nation. This new law, passed on Wednesday, introduces the possibility of a maximum five-year prison sentence for individuals intentionally promoting, sponsoring, or supporting LGBTQ+ activities. However, the bill awaits validation by the president before it can be enacted into law, a step that many observers believe may not occur until after the general election scheduled for December. Activist groups have strongly criticized the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values bill, labeling it a setback for human rights, and have urged President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration to reject it.

The legislation garners widespread support in Ghana, particularly under President Akufo-Addo’s leadership, who has firmly stated his opposition to gay marriage during his tenure. Often dubbed the anti-gay bill, this comprehensive legislation received backing from a coalition composed of Christian, Muslim, and traditional Ghanaian leaders, passing through parliament without opposition via a voice vote. While discrimination against LGBTQ individuals is prevalent, there have been no prosecutions under the colonial-era law to date.

Under the proposed bill, same-sex relations could result in imprisonment ranging from six months to three years, with harsher penalties extending to three to five years for advocates of LGBTQ rights. The United Nations rights chief, Volker Türk, denounced the bill, emphasizing that consensual same-sex conduct should never be criminalized and warning of the potential for hate crimes.

A human rights coalition known as the Big 18, comprising lawyers and activists in Ghana, has also condemned the bill, asserting that it violates the fundamental human rights of the LGBT community. Despite opposition, sponsor Sam George, an opposition lawmaker, urges President Akufo-Addo to endorse the bill, claiming it offers the most comprehensive approach to addressing LGBTQ issues.

Members of Ghana’s LGBTQ community express deep concerns about the bill’s ramifications. Alex Kofi Donkor, founder of LGBT+ Rights Ghana, believes its passing would exacerbate marginalization and endanger individuals in the LGBTQ community, fostering an environment of fear and persecution.

Globally, about 30 African countries currently outlaw homosexuality, with punishments ranging from harsh imprisonment to the death penalty in countries like Uganda, Mauritania, and certain Nigerian states. South Africa stands as the sole nation on the continent permitting gay marriage, while a handful of countries have decriminalized gay sex, according to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA).

Comments are closed.

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑