Homosexualilty Didn’t Start From The West, Gas And Nzemas Practiced It Long Time Ago– Prof. Gadzekpo
Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, the Board Chair of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), continues to vigorously oppose the passage of the anti LGBTQ+ bill.
In an effort to dispel the misconception that homosexuality is foreign to African culture, Professor Gadzekpo has highlighted the historical involvement of certain tribes in Ghana in such practices, predating the arrival of colonial powers.
During an appearance on Joy Newsfile on Saturday, March 2, 2024, Professor Gadzekpo specifically mentioned that Ghanaian cultures, including Ga and Nzema, have long-standing traditions of homosexual practices deeply ingrained within them.
“The whole argument Mr Sam George advances, and it seems very logical that if you go into our history, because Kojo Besia is a coinage, it doesn’t mean that we practice it; look, I have heard people who were against the bill but have admitted that when you look into some of our cultural practices, there are homosexual practices. It didn’t come from the West,” she stated.
Probed which specific Ghanaian cultures had traits of homosexual practices, Prof Gadzekpo pointed to the people of Ga and Nzema.“Which one? Well, I was in a training, and somebody told us that when you look in… there are practices in Ga culture, there are practices in Nzema culture, for example, that sociologists have documented,” she stated.
The Parliament of Ghana has approved the bill on Human Sexual Rights and Family Values, also known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill. The bill criminalizes LGBTQ+ activities, including their promotion, advocacy, and funding.Ahead of the passage, sponsors of the bill filed a motion for a further consideration stage.
The lead sponsor, Samuel Nartey George, proposed amendments to clauses 10 and 11 of the bill, which deal with the editorial policies of media firms, to ensure they align with Article 12 of the 1992 constitution, providing for freedom of the media.
These amendments were approved by the House.However, the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, filed a motion for clause 12 of the bill, which addresses the funding of LGBTQ+ activities, to be subjected to the constitution, but this was negated by the House.
After the passage, Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, the Board Chair of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), called on President Akufo-Addo to reject the bill. Prof. Gadzekpo argued that the bill undermines fundamental human rights protected by the Constitution, including dignity, freedom of speech and association, academic freedom, equality, and non-discrimination.The bill will now require presidential assent to come into force.
President Nana Akufo-Addo has not confirmed if he would sign the bill into law. The United Nations expressed concerns in 2021, stating that the proposed law
would create .
