President Akufo-Addo has stated that for now, he is leaving the proposed bill against LGBTQIA+ persons in Ghana in the hands of parliament, and will only step in once the process is done.  

The President said this while hosting the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris at the Jubilee House on Monday, March 27, 2023.

He was answering to a question by a journalist on the legislation on LGBTQIA+ in the country.

Advertisement

“First of all, we don’t have any legislation here in Ghana. A bill has been proposed to the parliament of Ghana, it has all kinds of ramifications and is now being considered by the parliament. It hasn’t been passed, so the statement that there is legislation in Ghana to that effect is not accurate,” President Akufo-Addo clarified.

The President also expressed that he has no doubt that the parliament of Ghana will ensure the bill is passed with sensitivity to human rights and the feelings of the population.

“The bill is going through the parliament, the attorney general has found it necessary to speak to the committee about it regarding the constitutionality, otherwise several of its provisions and the parliament is dealing with it.

“At the end of the process, I will come in but the mean time, the parliament is dealing with it and I have no doubt that the parliament of Ghana will ensure that it is done in first of all, with insensitivity to human rights issues as well as to the feelings of our population, and will come out with a responsible response to the proposal,” he added.

🚨[WATCH]🇬🇭🇺🇸: As part of @VP Kamala Harris visit to Ghana, an interaction with the press(locally & globally) was held at the President’s Jubilee House earlier today.

A question about LGBTQ+ rights came up.

Advertisement

This is what @NAkufoAddo had to say.

📹: @GTV_Ghana pic.twitter.com/asOzuNUw6t

— Ölele | Deep Throat Sauce👨🏾‍🍳🇬🇭 (@OleleSalvador) March 27, 2023

The debate on the criminalisation on LGBTQIA+ activities has heightened in the country within the last 2-3 years, and with the Vice President of the United States in the country, the debate on the stance of the President has been resurrected.

In July 2021, a copy of an anti-LGBTQIA+ bill, drafted by the Member of Parliament for Ningo – Prampram, Sam George and 7 other members of parliament made its way to the internet and has since sparked several conversations online.

Advertisement

The proposal, which has since been submitted to parliament, also explicitly bans same-sex marriage and adoption, LGBTQ-focused associations and gender-affirming surgery — ”except where the procedure is intended to correct a biological anomaly including intersex.”

It also states that any individual or media entity that uses their platform to discuss or advocate for their rights could spend at least 5-10 years imprisonment.