President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated clearly that his government has no hand in the anti-LGBTQ bill currently before Parliament.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Vice President of the United States of America, president Akufo-Addo said the bill was proposed and is being pushed by a handful of private individuals.
““The legislation is a private members bill. It’s not an official legislation of the government and it’s one that’s being mooted by a handful of private members,” he said.
He, however, indicated that his government, through the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, has intervened in the consideration processes and ensured that the bill is modified to safeguard human rights.
“My understanding from the recent discussions that I had with the Chairman of the committee is that substantial elements of the bill have already been modified as a result of the intervention of the Attorney General”.
The president made these remarks as an intervention to a question asked the US Vice president, Kamala Harris about the US’s commitment to calling out governments of other countries that have passed laws against LGBTQ vis-a-vis the current situation in Ghana and other African countries she is visiting.
Responding to the question, Kamala Harris reiterated the USA and particularly the Joe Biden administration’s resolve to push for the recognition of LGBTQ rights and activities, stating that they view LGBTQ as an issue of human rights.
President Akufo-Addo, on his part, clarified that Ghana does not currently have a legislation against LGBTQ activities.
He, however, failed to state his government’s position on the matter but said that he has the final say as to whether the anti-LGBTQ bill currently before Parliament get passed into law or not.
He expressed confidence in the legislature to take a decision on the bill that will be human rights sensitive and at the same time, sensitive to the feelings of the Ghanaian people.
“At the end of the process, I will come in but in the meantime the Parliament is dealing with it. And I have no doubt that the Parliament of Ghana will show, as it has done in the past, its sensitivity to human rights issue as well as to the feelings of our population”.
Parliament of Ghana is currently considering an anti-LGBTQ bill dubbed ‘Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values’.
The bill, which is a Private Member Bill sponsored by a number of legislators, seeks to criminalize activities related to the practice and promotion of LGBTQ.
If passed into law, people engage in or promoting such activities face up to 10-year jail term.
It also seeks to disband LGBTQI advocacy groups and proscribe sexual reassignment surgeries among others.
The proposal of the bill sparked public conversation with some kicking against it while a majority of the populace commended its promulgation.
