The United States has frowned on the new anti-LGBTQ law in Ghana.
On Wednesday, Ghana’s parliament passed a new bill opposing
the rights of queer persons, and proposing a prison sentence of up to five
years for the “wilful promotion, sponsorship, or support of LGBTQ+ activities”.
The bill also proposes a jail term of up to 10 years for
anyone involved in LGBTQ+ advocacy campaigns aimed at children, and encourages
the public to report members of the queer community to authorities for
“necessary action”.
Sam George, MP for Ningo-Prampram, who introduced the bill, described it as a major success and vowed to protect the country’s values.
George has been a vocal advocate for the crack down on
LGBTQ+ activities in the country.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued by Matthew
Miller, spokesperson for the US department of state, the United States said it
was “deeply troubled” by the passage of the legislation.
Miller said the crack down would threaten all
constitutionally protected freedoms of speech of Ghanaians, press, and
assembly.
“Limiting the rights
of one group in a society undermines the rights of all,” the US government
official added.
“Ghana’s tradition of tolerance, peace, and respect for
human rights is a source of stability and prosperity that has long served as a
model for countries around the globe.
“This legislation is inconsistent with these values and
will, if it becomes law, undermine this laudable tradition.
“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.”
The new law has made Ghana the latest African country to
pass stringent anti-LGBTQ legislation.
Last year, the Ugandan government passed a similar law but
with more extreme penalties such as life imprisonment and death.
The World Bank said the law contradicted the bank’s values,
as it seeks to protect gender and sexual minorities from exclusion in the
projects it funds, and announced a halt in new financing to Uganda.
Two months later, the US announced plans to expel Uganda
from the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a special US-Africa trade
programme introduced in 2,000.
AGOA grants eligible sub-Saharan African countries,
including Nigeria, duty-free access to the US for more than 1,800 products.
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