Ghanaians in London are protesting the Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values also known as the anti-LGBTQI+ bill at Ghana’s High Commission.
The protestors who are activists and allies of the LGBTQI+ today March 7, 2024 stormed Ghana’s High Commission to express their displeasure.
The protestors, who were wielding placards and clad in LGBTQI+ colors, were heard chanting ”Queer Ghanaian lives matter, “Gay lives matter “, “Kill the hate bill”.
This comes after Ghana’s Parliament on Wednesday February 28, 2024 passed the Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values also known as the anti-LGBTQI+ bill.
The Bill seeks to unequivocally criminalise LGBTQI+ activities.
Persons caught in the act would be subjected to 6 months to 3 year jail term with promoters and sponsors of the act bearing a 3 to 5 year jail term.
The bill also proposes that a person who, by use of media, technological platform, technological account or any other means, produces, procures, markets, broadcasts, disseminates, publishes or distributes a material for purposes of promoting an activity prohibited under the Bill, or a person uses an electronic device, the Internet service, a film, or any other device capable of electronic storage or transmission to produce, procure, market, broadcast, disseminate, publishes or distribute a material for purposes of promoting an activity prohibited under the Bill, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a term of imprisonment of not less than five years and not more than ten years.
Meanwhile, the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on the general public to wait for the outcome of the case filed at the Supreme Court by a concerned citizen with regard to the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.
Reacting to calls to assent to the bill in a statement posted on Facebook by Director of Communication at the presidency, Eugene Arhin on March 4, Akufo-Addo noted the anxiety expressed by members of the diplomatic community in relation to this matter.
“I have learnt that, today, a challenge has been mounted at the Supreme Court by a concerned citizen to the constitutionality of the proposed legislation. In the circumstances, it would be, as well, for all of us to hold our hands, and await the decision of the Court before any action is taken.”
“I am aware that last week’s bi-partisan passage by Parliament of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, on a Private Member’s motion, has raised considerable anxieties in certain quarters of the diplomatic community and amongst some friends of Ghana that she may be turning her back on her, hitherto, enviable, longstanding record on human rights observance and attachment to the rule of law. I want to assure you that no such back-sliding will be con-templated or occasioned,”
“The operation of the institutions of the Ghanaian state will determine the future trajectory of the rule of law and human rights compliance in our country,” President Akufo-Addo added.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu
