Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo announced on Monday that an anti-gay bill currently being debated in parliament has been “modified” as a result of his government’s intervention.
Mr. Akufo-Addo stated during a joint news conference with visiting US Vice-President Kamala Harris that the bill was not official government policy but had been proposed by a “handful” of private members.
He stated that the attorney general had given opinions to a parliamentary committee on the “constitutionality or otherwise of several of its provisions.”
“My understanding… is that substantial elements of the bill have already been modified as a result of the attorney general’s intervention,” he said, without providing further details.
President Akufo-Addo refused to say what he would do if the bill passed but expressed hope that the parliament would take into account the sensitive nature of the human rights issue.
“We’ll see what the final result is,” he added.
Ms. Harris stated that she discussed the matter with President Akufo-Addo and that the US considered it a violation of human rights.
If passed, the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Value Bill would imprison LGBTQ people and criminalize gay rights advocacy.
Beginning in 2021, Ghana’s parliament held public hearings on the bill. When it will be put to a vote is unknown.
In Ghana, where homophobic attitudes are prevalent, gay sex is already punishable by up to three years in prison, but the draft law would impose longer sentences.
Mr. Akufo-Addo has previously stated that same-sex marriage will never be legalized while he is president.
