The French government has added its voice to concerns being raised about Ghana’s proposed Anti-LGBTQ+ bill, with the French Minister of State for Europe And Foreign Affairs, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, calling for respect for the human rights of all individuals.
Speaking at a news conference in Accra, the minister emphasized that in her country and the European Union, they promote human rights and have an ambassador who promotes LGBTQ+ rights. She urged that wherever she goes in Africa, she will continue to call for the respect of the LGBTQ+ community, stressing that it is a question of human rights.
This comes after Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin accused Western governments of meddling in Ghana’s internal affairs when visiting US Vice President Kamala Harris expressed her government’s interest in preserving and promoting LGBTQ+ rights globally. It is unclear how the government of Ghana intends to deal with the concerns raised by the international community.
President Akufo-Addo has noted that the Attorney General has found it necessary to speak to the parliamentary committee about the constitutionality of several provisions in the bill.
However, he reiterated his commitment to reviewing the bill before making a final decision. Meanwhile, the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament has recommended that the House passes the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021, stating that the majority of Ghanaians support the legislation.
Ghana is under pressure to respect the rights of sexual minority groups, especially homosexuals and lesbians, as some European governments express reservations about the proposed bill.
The bill proposes stiff penalties for LGBTQ+ individuals, supporters, and advocates in Ghana, which has raised concerns about the human rights implications of such a law. The international community is closely monitoring the situation in Ghana as lawmakers prepare to vote on the bill in the coming weeks.
