The President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, has made it clear that he does not support the anti-gay bill recently passed by the Ghanaian parliament.
He emphasized that Ghana will continue to uphold its reputation as a protector of human rights. According to a statement released by the President, the bill is currently being contested in the Supreme Court, and the nation must wait for the court’s decision.
The anti-gay bill was approved by Ghana’s Parliament on February 28, 2024.
Find the full statement from the presidency below:
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. I think it will serve little purpose to go, at this stage, into the details of the origin of this proposed law, which is yet to reach my desk.
But, suffice it to say, that 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. The operation of the institutions of the Ghanaian state will determine the future trajectory of the rule of law and human rights compli- ance in our country.
