On Wednesday, the contentious anti-homosexuality measure that has sparked outcry from around the world was unanimously approved by Ghana’s parliament.
“After three long years, we have finally passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Act,” stated Sam George, one of the primary sponsors of the bill on social site X.
Introduced in 2021, the anti-homosexuality law criminalizes not only partnerships between LGBTQ people but also anybody who advocate for LGBTQ rights.
Due primarily to regulations from the colonial era, same-sex activities are still widely illegal in African nations. However, a number of new bills and proposed laws in Africa have attempted to make such laws clearer and, in some cases, stronger.
Alleged connections between the homophobic legislation’ drafting and a US organization were discovered through a recent CNN investigation. The team denied this.
Before becoming law in Ghana, the bill must still be approved by the president of the nation.
Volker Türk, the UN’s chief human rights officer, referred to the bill’s passage in parliament as “deeply troubling” and asked the government not to sign it into law.
He stated, “The bill broadens the scope of criminal sanctions against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transexual and queer people – simply for being who they are – and threatens criminal penalties against perceived allies of LGBTQ+ people.”
UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima responded to the bill’s approval by stating that if it were to become law, it would “affect everyone” and impede the nation’s efforts to combat HIV and AIDS.
