Speaker of Ghana Parliament Alban Sumana Bagbin speaks on the Parliament Area in Accra, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Ghana’s parliament handed a extremely arguable anti-LGBTQ+ invoice on Wednesday that might ship some other folks to jail for greater than a decade.
Misper Apawu/AP
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Misper Apawu/AP
Speaker of Ghana Parliament Alban Sumana Bagbin speaks on the Parliament Area in Accra, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Ghana’s parliament handed a extremely arguable anti-LGBTQ+ invoice on Wednesday that might ship some other folks to jail for greater than a decade.
Misper Apawu/AP
ACCRA, Ghana — Ghana ‘s parliament handed a extremely arguable anti-LGBTQ+ invoice on Wednesday that might ship some other folks to jail for greater than a decade. The invoice was once offered to parliament 3 years in the past and criminalizes contributors of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood in addition to its supporters, together with promotion and investment of similar actions and public shows of love. Talking to journalists after the invoice was once handed Wednesday one in all its sponsors, lawmaker Sam George, stated he felt relieved. “(I) really feel like a burden has been taken from me,” he stated. The invoice has been despatched to the president’s table to be signed into regulation.
The West African country has typically been regarded as extra respectful of human rights than maximum African nations and the invoice has sparked condemnation a number of the world neighborhood and rights teams.
A coalition of human rights activists stated the invoice violated elementary human rights. “This invoice seeks to infringe on, amongst others, the rights to dignity, freedom of speech, freedom of affiliation, freedom to partake in processions, instructional freedom, equality and non-discrimination,” stated the gang in a remark. Sponsors of the invoice defended it announcing it seeks to offer coverage for kids and people who find themselves sufferers of abuse. Lawmakers proposing the invoice stated they consulted influential spiritual leaders whilst drafting it. Amongst the ones endorsing it are the Christian Council of Ghana, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Convention and the rustic’s leader imam.
