Amnesty International, the international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) rights advocate and defender, has urged both Parliament and the Government of Ghana to cease the consideration of the anti-gay bill, asserting that its passage would infringe upon human rights.
In a statement released on Wednesday, December 13, Amnesty International insisted that Parliament must promptly halt the consideration of the bill.
It emphasised that the current form of the bill if enacted, would result in turmoil within the country.
“This Bill gravely contravenes the principles of equality and non-discrimination, the rights to freedom of expression, association and privacy, and the prohibition of torture enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and international human rights treaties ratified by the country. More specifically, it denies LGBTI persons their inviolable human dignity, guaranteed to all persons under section 15 of the country’s Constitution.”
Amnesty International also stated that the bill promotes hatred, intolerance, and persecution against individuals based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity, solely because they do not or cannot adhere to prevailing social and gender norms.
“If passed into law, it intends to impose restrictions and criminal penalties against a range of people, including LGBTI people and anyone who expresses support or sympathy towards LGBTI people. It also places a positive obligation on everyone in Ghana to report any conduct perceived to be of an ‘LGBTI nature’ to the police, or to a list of people in the community in the absence of the police,” it added.
The anti-gay bill, officially titled the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, has stirred significant controversy both within the country and on the international stage.
The proposed law aims to criminalize same-sex sexual relationships, including oral and anal sex, with penalties ranging from five to 10 years in prison.
Furthermore, it seeks to criminalise the advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, the promotion of same-sex marriage or cohabitation, and the provision of support services to LGBTQ+ individuals.
In addition, the bill proposes punishment for individuals or organizations involved in organizing or participating in LGBTQ+ events, providing resources to support LGBTQ+ people, or producing or distributing materials that promote LGBTQ+ rights.
Meanwhile, the majority of Ghanaians, according to a survey conducted by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) are in support of the bill.
The latest group the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference stated its position on the anti-gay bill.
In a letter to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs of Parliament, signed by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale and President of the Conference, Most Rev. Philip Naameh, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference stated that in principle, the church is in support of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill.
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