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Johannesburg – Ghana’s parliament has given its approval to a contentious anti-LGBTQ bill after months of extensive deliberations. Today, the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values bill stands out as one of the most stringent pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation in Africa.
Even without the new bill, homosexuality is already prohibited in Ghana, carrying a potential three-year prison term. The newly approved law intensifies the maximum sentence to five years. Moreover, it introduces custodial sentence for individuals found guilty of advocating LGBTQ rights – one example that is seen as promotion of LGBTQ community is the dissemination of materials supportive of LGBTQ rights and is therefore deemed as illegal.
Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of UNAIDS, has issued a response following the approval of the Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill by Ghana’s parliament. She said in a statement, “The Human Sexual rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, a private member’s bill passed by parliament, has not yet become a law in Ghana. If the bill does become a law, it will affect everyone.” She added:
If Human Sexual rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill becomes a law, it will exacerbate fear and hatred, could incite violence against fellow Ghanaian citizens, and will negatively impact on free speech, freedom of movement and freedom of association.
If it becomes law, it will obstruct access to life-saving services, undercut social protection, and jeopardize Ghana’s development success.
Evidence shows that punitive laws like this Bill are a barrier to ending AIDS, and ultimately undermine everyone’s health.
The legislation – reportedly sponsored by traditional leaders from Ghana’s Christian and Muslim communities – now awaits the signature of Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo so that it becomes a law. While there is widespread anticipation from the public that he will sign it, the president has not publicly disclosed his stance on the bill.
Meanwhile, the Big 18 & Human Rights Coalition, an organization of lawyers and activists in Ghana, emphasized in a Tuesday press briefing that the bill “criminalizes a person’s identity and strips away fundamental human rights.” The coalition urged the president to reject it. Read the news in full here.
“Counterpoint” to the “Politically Correct”.
Unfortunately, for the Liberals –
whatever countries they inhabit – those countries do not make up the
whole world.
“Ghana,” however small and however insignificant, is still a “Word-To-The-Wise”:
It isn’t always “Sugar ‘n Spice” or “Sugar Plumb Fairies” dancing before our eyes!
Equality is Fantasy –
Equivalency is Reality..
The President there is more acutely aware than Parliament of what will happen if this bill becomes law; negative social and especially economic (foreign aid and business development dollars) consequences that won’t help the country overall. Those with money, influence, and power there won’t come out ahead. No news here until he signs or doesn’t make it law. Much the same in the US … Parties who control one side of Congress or another will display who what they’ve approved through their majority in those parts … leading voters on that a “law” had been passed. No. Nothing is a… Read more »
Why are you wasting time talking about world events? Isn’t talking about if you like big cocks more important?
An occasional bout of intellectualism does happen in these blogs!
If it passes, it’ll just be one LESS country to spend my hard earned money in.
Is Ghana in “Rick Steves’ Travel Book?
You guys always talk about where you spend your so called money when all you spend it on it is escorts, lol You have no idea what the hell you’re even talking about, lol Money sent to Ghana is donation based, not tax dumbass. lol And I’m willing to hazard a guess you’ve never sent a singles dime to that country. So why even make the statement in the first place?
Common Cents seeker:
Mike T may have confused “Ghana” with “Ghanarrea”?
And we Americans say “ that would never happen here” …. Oh if the cuckoo for Christ fools get there way it will
They cannot see that far ahead, most of the (programmed) hate themselves for being gay anyway.
Not to mention “diversity” is something they really didn’t want but like many narcissists; they love-bomb you; with promises and outright lies.
“Our country” such as it is and becoming; absolute possibilities as to how far the oppressors are willing to go, being as sadistic as they are.
Well- written!
Sometimes –
you “Out Do” yourself!
“how far the oppressors are willing to go,”
Oppression is in full force. From both ends of the political spectrum. Both ends are out to kill each other off. It’s up the those in the middle who see all views to stop them.
“cuckoo for Christ”
In February 2024, reported in Reuters, “ Pope Francis said he sees “hypocrisy” in criticism of his decision to allow priests to bless same-sex couples, possibly his most strongly worded defence of the move.
So that’s the Catholics. You should research how “cuckoo for Christ” Christian denominations accept LGTBQ+ individuals. Episcopals are onboard. Lutheran and Methodists have split in just about half (no surprise).
Get educated. Stop promoting hate.