By Melanie Nathan, March 03, 2024
By way of one example, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) have expressed their gratitude and joy following the passage of the Promotion of Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the anti-gay bill, by Ghana’s Parliament. This serves as an example of the general popularity of the new law in both Christian and Muslim quarters.
The legislation, which criminalizes, not only LGBT related activities and those who fight for LGBT civil and human rights, but also LGBTQ identity, was approved on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, sparking a massive international outcry, including some courageous Ghanaians.
Prominent figures like Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, the Board Chair of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), the United States ambassador to Ghana and the U.S. State Department have condemned the legislation.
However, GPCC, in a statement commended the private sponsors of the bill, the Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values, and all others "who contributed to its success."
"GPCC acknowledged the efforts of the Members of Parliament and the Attorney General’s office for their contributions and critiques, which enriched the content of the bill. They also recognized the efforts of the Right Honourable Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, for his commitment to ensuring the bill’s passage."
The Ghanaians have heeded the current ultra religious right wing western Evangelical Christian call to enhance anti LGBT legislation and President Museveni of Uganda's call for African leaders to help rid the world of homosexuality. Uganda passed the Kill the Gays Bill last year. Both countries are seeing a massive flight of LGBT people seeking protection abroad and across borders. Pathways are few and protection is limited.
The bill, one of the harshest of its kind in Africa. "My heart is broken and devastated at the moment, that's all I can say for now" Angel Maxine, Ghana's first openly transgender musician and LGBTQI+ activist, told Reuters."
A coalition of Christian, Muslim, and Ghanaian traditional leaders sponsored the legislation.
Following the vote in parliament, the bill will be presented to President Nana Akufo-Addo after which he has seven days to assent or refuse to assent, according to Ghana's constitution.
The Bill is a private bill which ultimately means it does not need the President's signature for validity, though it will sit on his desk pending his assent. If he chooses not to it will go back to parliament and can become law on a two-third majority vote. The passage of the Bill saw only one objection in Parliament and it popularity way exceeds the two third requirement by a vast majority. Perhaps the GPCC does. not realize that their dicta and this new law serves to further enhance already extreme anti LGBT sentiment in Ghana, Uganda and other neighbor countries as well as licensing extreme persecution and violence, without any government protection.
This law serves to drive LGBT people further underground and into hiding, cutting thousands of people off from healthcare and other services as well as the protection of the justice system. Already Western countries are cutting off aid to what was once one of the most respected African nations, for its measures of democracy. This once relatively free nation now sits under a dark cloud, stained by oppressive and discriminatory legislation.
The US government has threatened foreign aid restrictions to Ghana if anti-gay bill becomes law.
Ghana will be celebrating its 67th Independence with a big concert scheduled in Ohio with famed artist Nkosuo Hene set to host star-studded Independence Day concert in the USA: The concert will take place on March 8, 2024, at The Forum in Columbus, Ohio. African Human Rights Coalition is calling for protests, boycotts and withdrawal of VISAS by the US State Department for this event.
By MELANIE NATHAN, ED African Human Rights Coalition, commissionermnathan@gmail.com | nathan@africanHRC.org. EXPERT WITNESS FOR LGBT ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM ANGOLA, UGANDA, GHANA, KENYA, ZIMBABWE, SENEGAL – and other African Countries
Previous Articles since passage:
San Francisco Pride Stands with Ghana's LGBT+ Community in Solidarity
by Melanie Nathan, March 02, 2024 San Francisco Pride has condemned the new harsh anti LGBT law passed by the Parliament of Ghana. SF... https://www.africanhrc.org/single-post/san-francisco-pride-stands-with-ghana-s-lgbt-community-in-solidarity
GHANA GUIDELINES; HOW TO MAKE A STATEMENT CONDEMNING THE NEW ANTI LGBTQ LAW IN GHANA
By Melanie Nathan, March 01, 2024. SOME IMPORTANT ADVICE -Please American organizations and people - when you comment on the new... https://www.africanhrc.org/single-post/ghana-guidelines-how-to-make-a-statement-condemning-the-new-anti-lgbtq-law-in-ghana
African Human Rights Coalition Condemns Ghanas Dangerous Anti LGBTQ LAW
By Melanie Nathan, Feb 28, 2024. Ghana has become the new skunk of the world! The Parliament of Ghana has passed a new anti-LGBTQ law... https://www.africanhrc.org/single-post/african-human-rights-coalition-condemns-ghanas-dangerous-anti-lgbtq-law