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By: Wilhelmina Oddoye
The so-called “Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021”, also known as the anti-LGBTQ+ has been in Parliament for 30 months since its introduction in July 2021.
Though it’s been 7 months since it passed its second reading and progressed to the committee stage, the bill hasn’t become a law yet and its future remains uncertain.
The LGBTQ+ bill in Ghana is a very controversial legislature that has been met with strong opposition from both within and outside the country. It seeks to criminalize any person of any other sexual orientation or in a sexual relationship apart from the gender; which is socially constructed as male and female assigned by society.
Proponents of the bill argue that it is necessary to protect Ghanaian culture and values indicating that the LGBTQ is foreign and contrary to the socio-cultural orientation assigned at birth.
But the issue of freedom and democracy whispers. Opponents and human rights advocates argue that the Ghanaian constitution paves the way for the rights and freedoms of every individual to be respected. In contrast, the passage of this bill into law will infringe upon the rights and privileges of a particular group of people and generally violate human rights. Thus, making the bill discriminatory.
It is relevant to note that there are strong opinions on both sides. The president indirectly is in the position to choose which is more relevant in the situation; religion or democracy. One question on the mind of every Ghanaian is, will the anti-LGBTQ+ bill be approved and passed by the president?
