The recent passage of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021, commonly referred to as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, by the Ghanaian Parliament has drawn deep concern from the United States Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia E. Palmer.
Expressing her concerns on X, Ambassador Palmer did not mince words in conveying her disappointment and worry over the legislation.
“I am saddened because some of the smartest, most creative, most decent people I know are LGBT,” she stated, highlighting the bill’s infringement upon the basic human rights of the LGBTQ+ community and its undermining of the constitutional rights of all Ghanaians.
Ambassador Palmer emphasized potential violations of freedom of speech, assembly, and the press, fundamental principles of any democratic society. She also raised alarms about the bill’s potential impact on public order and public health, warning of adverse effects on Ghana’s international reputation and economy if enacted.
The statement underscores the global attention such legislation garners and the possible diplomatic and economic repercussions it may entail.
"I am saddened because some of the smartest, most creative, most decent people I know are LGBT. The bill Parliament passed takes away not only their basic human rights but those of all Ghanaians because it undermines their constitutional rights to freedom of speech, freedom of… https://t.co/DgCJ7qkpPl
— U.S. Embassy Ghana (@USEmbassyGhana) February 29, 2024
In response to the bill’s passage, Samuel Nartey George, a lead sponsor, has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to sign the bill into law, emphasizing the need to uphold Ghana’s family values.
As the nation awaits the President’s decision, the fate of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill hangs in the balance, carrying profound implications for Ghana’s legislative landscape and its commitment to human rights.
