A group of renowned Ghanaian citizens have recommended to the Parliament of Ghana to firmly reject the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Right and Ghanaian Family Value Bill 2021, which seeks to criminalize all activities of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) in the country. They are of the view that the bill currently before Parliament, when passed will undermine the rights and freedoms Ghanaians have fought for and gained as citizens of a democratic republic.
Addressing a press conference in Accra, leader of the group, Lawyer Akoto Ampaw, who is also the personal Lawyer of the current President of Ghana – Nana Akufo-Addo, explained that the LGBTQ+ Bill currently before parliament is a major step backwards for democracy inclusiveness, the protection of minority and vulnerable in society and of fundamental human rights in Ghana.
He further indicated that, the bill constitutes a flagrant violation of the rights and freedoms guaranteed under the constitution of Ghana and is an existential threat to the Republic and its core values as set out in the preamble of Chapter 5 on Fundamental Human Right of the 1992 constitution.
Lawyer Ampaw further intimated that the Bill in its memorandum quotes the views expressed by the National House of Chiefs that being LGBTQ+ is a taboo and inhuman under Ghanaian culture. He however, debunked the statement saying, it stigmatizes the being and identity of LGBTQ+ persons and denies them their humanity and that the bill reinforces hatred for these persons and implies they have no place in our society and deserves to be eradicated.
The renowned Lawyer, reiterated the group’s firm believe that, the Bill in clause 12 goes to the extreme of criminalizing and prohibiting also ideas, views and expressions promoting or advocating support for the LGBTQ+ practices. He noted that, this clause goes directly against Article 21 (1) (a) of the constitution which provides that all persons are entitled to freedom of speech and expression, which shall include the freedom of the press and other media.
He also pointed out that, clause 15 of the Bill seeks to disband existing LGBTQ+ organizations and clause 16 prohibits the formation and registration of groups, associations and organizations to engage in activities having anything to do with LGBTQ+ causes, is in direct contravention of Article (1)(e) of the constitution and must not be entertained.
The Supreme Court Lawyer, clarified that the Bill has not provided, and cannot provide, a shred of evidence to demonstrate any harm that LGBTQ+ persons or their activities pose to society, which would have provided a reasonable justification for such extraordinary high-handed violent assault on their fundamental human rights and the right of other citizens,” he noted
Akoto Ampaw also alleged that the main proponents of the Bill have received considerable assistance from the Western Global anti-gay and abortion network, the self-styled World Congress of Families. He said the self-styled World Congress of Families have been active in promoting the passage of similar repressive anti-LGBTQ+ laws in some countries of Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Therefore, those pushing for this bill cannot decry foreign imposition.
Mr. Ampaw also touched on religious intolerance, violation of International and African Right Instruments and explained that the provision of the LGBTQ+ Bill are, in total egregious in their violation of the fundamental human rights guaranteed under the constitution and if passed into law, would be unconstitutional, null and void.
“The Bill for the Protection of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family values is an Orwellian nightmare fraught with stigmatization, bigotry, intolerance and violation of the fundamental human rights of LGBTQ+ persons and those who defend their rights.
“This Bill has no place in our constitutional democratic republic,” he emphasized.
Other members of the group include Prof. Emerita Takyiwaa Manuh, Prof. Kwame Karikari and his wife Dr. Rose Mensah Kutin, Prof. Kofi Gyimah Boadi, Prof. Audrey Gadzekpo, Dr. Yao Graham, Prof. Dzodzi Tsikata, Prof. H. Kwasi Prempeh, Kwasi Adu Amankwah, Dr. Kojo Asante, Kingsley Ofei-Nkansah, Akunu Dake, Tetteh Hormeku-Adjei, Prof. Raymond Atuguba, Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby, Dr. Joseph Asunka and Nana Ama Agyemang Asante.
By Derick Botsyoe and Maryann Akrobetu