Ahead of Ghana’s elections, all major presidential candidates express intentions to strengthen anti-LGBTQ+ laws, creating a precarious situation for the LGBTQ+ community. A controversial bill proposing severe penalties, including imprisonment for identifying as LGBTQ+, awaits Supreme Court review. Activists warn of the law’s detrimental effects on safety and rights, while international bodies raise concerns over human rights violations.
In Ghana’s upcoming general elections, the LGBTQ+ community is confronted with a distressing dilemma, as all prominent presidential candidates have vowed to intensify measures against gay rights in response to pervasive anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments. The newly elected leader will likely have to evaluate a controversial bill that proposes severe penalties, including incarceration for LGBTQ+ identification. Current presidential hopeful, Mahamudu Bawumia, has pledged his support for the bill, while his adversary, former President John Dramani Mahama, suggests enhancing legal restrictions against LGBTQ+ activities without explicitly endorsing the bill.
Ghana’s criminalization of gay sexual relations is being broadened under the proposed legislation, which threatens to escalate the discrimination faced by sexual and gender minorities. Under this bill, individuals engaging in same-sex relations risk imprisonment for up to five years, alongside penalties for those who fail to report suspected LGBTQ+ individuals. Human rights advocates warn this legislation will further marginalize an already beleaguered community, driving individuals into secrecy to avert repercussions.
The proposed law has invigorated a long-standing debate that reflects the country’s deeply ingrained conservative attitudes, with a 2021 survey revealing only 7% of Ghanaians support same-sex relationships. Recent protests orchestrated by religious factions highlight the societal push for expedited passage of the bill, which is perceived as a safeguard of traditional values.
Michael Akagbor, a human rights officer from the Centre for Democracy and Development Ghana, notes that while the bill remains unratified, its societal ramifications have already fueled a troubling increase in anti-LGBTQ+ actions and discrimination. Likewise, Hans Burinyuy, from LGBT+ Rights Ghana, emphasizes the chilling effect the legislation has had on LGBTQ+ individuals’ safety and livelihood.
The European Union has expressed grave concerns over the proposed law, categorizing it as a violation of Ghanaian constitutional rights and international human rights standards. The Supreme Court is currently deliberating the bill’s legality regarding faults in its legislative process. For many LGBTQ+ citizens, such as Abena, the looming electoral choices and the possible enactment of the bill cast a shadow over their future in Ghana, leaving them in a precarious position as the elections approach.
The legislative and social landscape for LGBTQ+ individuals in Ghana is characterized by significant hostility and discrimination, primarily fueled by cultural and religious beliefs. The introduction of a bill that seeks to intensify penalties against LGBTQ+ individuals has intensified fears within the community. Key political figures have strategically aligned their campaigns with anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment to enhance their electoral appeal, setting the stage for a confrontational and potentially hazardous environment for sexual and gender minorities leading up to the elections.
The Ghanaian LGBTQ+ community stands at a critical juncture as the December elections approach, with both primary candidates promising to adopt stringent measures against LGBTQ+ rights. The proposed legislation threatens to criminalize LGBTQ+ identification and significantly increase state-sanctioned discrimination. As the Supreme Court prepares to weigh in on the bill’s fate, individuals within the community express a sense of fear and isolation amidst an increasingly hostile political climate.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
