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A bill criminalizing LGBTQ+ people in Ghana and their supporters drew international criticism on Thursday after it was passed by Parliament. The United Nations called it “deeply disturbing” and urged not to make it law.
Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the Office of the UN High Commissioner, said in a statement that the bill expands the scope of criminal sanctions against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people simply because of who they are and that They are threatened with criminal sanctions against those who are perceived as their allies.
“Consensual same-sex behavior should never be criminalized…The bill, if it becomes law, will be destructive and have a negative impact on society as a whole,” she said.
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Draft law to criminalize acts of the LGBTQ community in Ghana
The bill, passed by the West African country's parliament on Wednesday, was first introduced three years ago. It criminalizes relationships, sexual activity and public displays of affection between members of the LGBTQ+ community.
It is also aimed at their supporters and the promotion and funding of LGBTQ+ related activities. Those convicted face up to a decade in prison.
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The bill was sent to the President's desk to be signed into law.
Speaker of the Ghanaian Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin, speaks at the Parliament Building in Accra, Ghana, on Wednesday, February 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)
Ghana was generally considered to be more respectful of human rights than most African countries, but international condemnation has increased since the legislation was passed in parliament.
The United States said it was deeply disturbed by the bill as it threatened Ghanaians' freedom of expression and called for a review of its constitutionality, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on Wednesday.
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In a radio interview, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Godfred Yeboah Dame said he would not advise the President to sign a bill that does not comply with the constitution.
Audrey Gadzekpo, head of the Center for Democratic Development, a human rights group, said she would continue to push for the bill to be thrown out, including by going to court.
LGBTQ+ people in Ghana say they are concerned about the safety of those around them, such as healthcare providers, and for themselves.
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“The passage of this law shows me and all Ghanaians that our politicians do not respect our democracy. They do not respect our constitution or the many international legal treaties that Ghana has signed over the years,” he said. A queer person who did not want to be named for fear of reprisal told The Associated Press.
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“I don’t know how much longer I can live in a country that has criminalized me,” she said.