The United States Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Evelyn Palmer has expressed her sadness following the passage of the anti-LGBTQI+ Bill by the parliament of Ghana.
She expressed her disappointment in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Parliament on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, unanimously passed the anti-LGBTQI+ Bill.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values bill now imposes a prison sentence of up to five years for the “wilful promotion, sponsorship, or support of LGBTQ+ activities.”
The bill is expected to be forwarded to the president’s desk to be signed into law.
Lead sponsor of the bill Samuel Nartey George reacting to the passage of the bill said “There is nothing that deals with LGBTQ better than this bill that has been passed by parliament,” George said. “We expect the president to walk his talk and be a man of his words.”
Reacting to the passage, the US Ambassador opined that the bill does not deprive the fundamental rights of Ghanaians but also undermines their constitutional rights to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of the press.
She further asserted that the bill would be bad for public order and public health, adding, that if assented by the president, it would also hurt Ghana’s international reputation and Ghana’s economy
“I am saddened because some of the smartest, most creative, most decent people I know are LGBT. The bill Parliament passed takes away not only their basic human rights but those of all Ghanaians because it undermines their constitutional rights to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of the press. It will be bad for public order and public health. If enacted, it will also hurt Ghana’s international reputation and Ghana’s economy.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
