\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Minister of State of the United Kingdom for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell has expressed disappointment at Ghana\u2019s passage of the LGBTQ+ Bill.<\/p>\n
The reaction follows Ghana\u2019s Parliament\u2019s passing of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill after a third reading on 28th February 2024.<\/p>\n
The Parliament of Ghana on Wednesday unanimously passed a controversial anti-homosexuality bill that has drawn international condemnation. The bill is currently awaiting presidential assent.
Reacting to it, the Minister of State of the United Kingdom for Development and Africa, Mitchell on X, formerly Twitter on Thursday, 29th of February, said the passage of the bill would undermine the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Ghanaians.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it becomes law, this will undermine freedoms for all Ghanaians,\u201d his post read.<\/p>\n
He called on Ghana to uphold human rights by living up to the \u201cconstitutional and international obligations\u201d.
The bill, which was introduced in the parliament in 2021, not only criminalizes LGBTQ relationships but also those who support LGBTQ rights.
African countries still widely criminalize same-sex activity, mostly because of colonial-era laws.
But a raft of recent bills and proposed laws across Africa have looked to clarify and, in some cases, strengthen those laws.<\/p>\n
In related news, the United Nations human rights chief Volker T\u00fcrk called parliament\u2019s passing of the bill \u201cprofoundly disturbing\u201d and urged the government not to sign it into law.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bill broadens the scope of criminal sanctions against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transexual and queer people \u2013 simply for being who they are \u2013 and threatens criminal penalties against perceived allies of LGBTQ+ people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima also responding to the passing of the bill, warned that if the bill did become a law it would \u201caffect everyone\u201d and hamper the country\u2019s fight against HIV and AIDS.<\/p>\n
\u201cApproaches rooted in inclusion of all people have been crucial to Ghana\u2019s progress in the HIV response,\u201d Byanyima said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo achieve the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, it is vital to ensure that everyone has equal access to essential services without fear, stigma or discrimination and that providers of life-saving HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care services are supported in their work,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Byanyima warned if the bill becomes law, \u201cit will negatively impact on free speech, freedom of movement and freedom of association\u201d and \u201cobstruct access to life-saving services, undercut social protection, and jeopardize Ghana\u2019s development success.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvidence shows that punitive laws like this bill are a barrier to ending AIDS, and ultimately undermine everyone\u2019s health.\u201d<\/p>\n
USA<\/p>\n
The United States State Department also on Wednesday in a statement noted that Washington was \u201cdeeply troubled\u201d by the passing of the law, saying it would \u201cthreaten all Ghanaians\u2019 constitutionally-protected freedoms of speech, press, and assembly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLimiting the rights of one group in a society undermines the rights of all. The United States echoes the call by those Ghanaians who have urged a review of the constitutionality of the bill to protect the rights of all individuals in Ghana,\u201d the statement from State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.<\/p>\n
The US State Department also reiterated the undermining impact the bill will have across the country\u2019s \u201cpublic health, media and civic spaces, and economy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cInternational business coalitions have already stated that such discrimination in Ghana would harm business and economic growth in the country,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n
-BY Daniel Bampoe<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0 The Minister of State of the United Kingdom for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell has expressed disappointment at Ghana\u2019s passage of the LGBTQ+ Bill. The reaction follows Ghana\u2019s Parliament\u2019s passing of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill after a third reading on 28th February 2024. The Parliament of Ghana on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":158618,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-158617","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-local-news"],"yoast_head":"\n
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