Ghana’s Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill Raises Concerns Over International Trade and Violence, Warns US Ambassador
The recently passed anti-LGBTQ+ bill by Ghana’s Parliament has sparked fears over the country’s international trade prospects and risks fueling violence, according to Virginia Evelyn Palmer, the US Ambassador to Ghana. In an interview on TV Africa’s Breakfastlive show, Palmer expressed her concerns regarding the potential economic and public order consequences of the bill.
The US Ambassador stressed that numerous US-based businesses are deeply worried about the bill, fearing that international consumers might boycott products made in Ghana if the legislation is enacted. Palmer used cocoa production as an example, highlighting that buyers may hesitate to support a country associated with repression.
Beyond economic repercussions, the bill has already led to increased violence against the LGBTQ+ community merely through its discussion. The Ambassador explained that there are public order implications stemming from the bill, which poses a direct threat to the safety and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals.
The bill, officially known as the 2021 Promotion of Appropriate Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, was passed unanimously by Ghana’s 275 members of Parliament. Among its provisions, the legislation seeks to criminalize homosexuality and all related activities, including promoting, advocating, and funding them. It also imposes harsh prison sentences of up to ten years for LGBTQ+ advocates and three years for self-identifying individuals. Additionally, the bill aims to withdraw healthcare services from the LGBTQ+ community, including vital HIV medication.
Ambassador Palmer firmly highlighted the discriminatory nature of the legislation and its inconsistency with Ghana’s constitution. She warned that innocent lives would be negatively affected, emphasizing her belief that the bill encroaches upon various human rights.
However, the US Ambassador stressed that her advocacy does not involve promoting gay marriage or special rights for any specific group. Instead, her focus lies in upholding Ghana’s constitution and preserving the nation’s commitment to human rights. Palmer expressed the importance of open and respectful conversations among Ghanaians regarding this matter.
In conclusion, Ambassador Palmer underlined the need for protecting the safety of gay individuals rather than attempting to change their sexual orientation. She emphasized that the bill not only carries economic and public order consequences but also impacts Ghana’s standing as a defender of human rights.
As the global community watches Ghana’s actions closely, the discourse surrounding the bill continues. The conversation now shifts to the responsibility of Ghanaian society to address the concerns raised by international partners and ensure the wellbeing and equal treatment of all its citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation.
