By Melanie Nathan, March 01, 2024.
SOME IMPORTANT ADVICE -Please American organizations and people - when you comment on the new anti-LGBT Ghana law - here are some guideline:
1. Consider consulting with experts
2. Do not re-colonize and do not make threats
3. Do not add to bolster the narrative that America is exporting homosexuality to Africa through your ignorant statements
4. Respect the culture and sovereignty of others, even if subject to discourse, which means even though you may not agree with aspects of it - you must still show respect in your own dealings
5. What may seem hateful to you may be not intended as such and may be someone else's values. Yes change may be needed - how we do that is sensitive and measured
6. DO NOT tell President Akufo-Addo of Ghana NOT to sign the law : a. Even is he does NOT sign it, it will still be law and b. You re-colonize when you tell him what to do. His own people can tell him what to do. So do not waste your time: It is a political quagmire for him to balance global AID and his popularity in his country. Let him have the problem to solve without your interference. However you can say you disapprove and condemn the law. That is perfectly fine.
7. ALWAYS CONSULT with the human rights defenders and activists from Ghana before taking action such as calling for boycotts etc. This could backfire. They may want it - follow their lead, as this unfolds.
IF YOU REALLY want to help LGBT Ghana - then behave properly and do not make it worse....
We encourage you to express solidarity and to condemn the law and point out the harms.
African Human Rights Coalition is currently dealing with many Ghanaians seeking to flee the country or who have already fled. we have two gay men at this time who have been trying to get into shelters in NYC and the time is expiring after all shelters have expired. The situation is dire and there are no resources for asylum seekers sufficient to deal with this. PLEASE consider donating to our fund - ALL funds received over the next 10 days will be dedicated to Ghana - unless you request otherwise: for accommodations, safe shelter, food and transport... at www.africanHRC.org/donate
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO RUN YOUR STATEMENT BY US AT AHRC.
By MELANIE NATHAN, ED African Human Rights Coalition,EXPERT WITNESS FOR LGBT ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM ANGOLA, UGANDA, GHANA, KENYA, ZIMBABWE, SENEGAL –and other African Countries
SEE REFERENCES: HERE
