The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, also known as the Anti-Gay Bill, is currently being debated in Parliament. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has distanced himself from the bill.
The anti-gay bill, which has been proposed in the form of a Private Members’ Bill, is anticipated to make certain behaviors associated with homosexuals in Ghana illegal.
In response to a question that was posed to him at the Jubilee House on Monday, March 27, when US Vice President Kamala Harris called on him, President Akufo-Addo confirmed that the bill is currently before Parliament, which will decide on it, but that the majority of its provisions are being fine-tuned.
Harris had called on him as part of her official visit to Ghana.
It hasn’t been passed, so the statement that there is legislation to that effect in Ghana is not accurate, he said. “The statement that there is legislation in Ghana to that effect is not accurate.”
“Parliament is dealing with it, and at the end of the process, I will come in,” he added. “I apologize for any confusion this may have caused.”
During the course of the latter’s three-day visit to the country, US Vice President Harris paid a visit to the seat of government, where he was greeted by President Akufo-Addo.
She emphasized how strongly she believes that it is important to support and fight for the cause of human rights, including the rights of LGBTQ people.
“For the American press who are here, you know that a great deal of work in my career has been to address human rights issues, equality issues across the globe including as well as the LGBTQ community and I feel very strongly about the importance of supporting freedom and supporting and fighting for quality among all people.”