Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, the French Minister for International Partnerships, has urged African countries to respect the rights of LGBTQ people.
Ms. Zacharopoulou said on Monday at a press conference in Ghana’s capital, Accra, that protecting LGBTQ rights was a core value for her and that she would continue to advocate for their rights wherever she goes in Africa.
“In my country and the European Union, we promote human rights, and of course, in my ministry, we have an ambassador to promote LGBT rights; so what I can say is that this is our values, and wherever I go in Africa, I will continue to say that we must respect all of us, the LGBTQ community – this is a question of human rights, and I always say that,” she said.
Ms. Zacharopoulou, who is in Ghana for three days, is the latest foreign leader to advocate for gay rights. ,
While visiting Ghana last week, US Vice President Kamala Harris made similar remarks about LGBTQ rights being human rights.
Ghanaian lawmakers are currently debating the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and the Ghanaian Family Value Bill, which criminalizes gay rights advocacy and proposes jail terms for LGBTQ people.
President Nana Addo Akufo-Addo announced last Monday that the bill had been “modified” as a result of his administration’s intervention.
