Passage of Anti-gay Bill is detrimental to Ghana’s economy and health sector – US tells Ghana
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The United States Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Virginia Evelyn Palmer has expressed worry over the passage of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values, otherwise known as the anti-gay bill.
In an X (formerly Twitter) post, the US Ambassador said, “I am saddened because some of the smartest, most creative, most decent people I know are LGBT. The bill parliament passed takes away not only their basic human righs but those of all Ghanaians because it undermines their constitutional rights to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of the press. It will be bad for public order and public health. If enacted, it will also hurt Ghana’s international reputation and Ghana’s economy”.
The US and other international communities and civil soceity groups have expressed their utmost displeasure over the passge of the bill by the parliament of Ghana on Wedneasday, February 28.
The Anti-gay bill was passsed after it was subjected to rigourous debate in Parliament.
Adding to the worry of the US Ambassador Palmer, the US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller, in a statement, also indicated that the bill’s passage will undermine “Ghana’s valuable public health, media and civic spaces, and economy.”
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He said, “The Ghanaian parliament’s passage of a bill criminalising members of the LGBTQI+ community imperils the rights of all people, its international reputation, and its economic development. Ghana’s laudable tradition of tolerance will be undermined if this bill becomes law”.
He emphasized that the bill’s passage also undermines Ghana’s tradition of tolerance, peace, and respect for human rights and called for a review of the bill “to protect the rights of all individuals in Ghana.”
“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.”
Meanwhile, one of the proponents of the bill and Memebr of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Hon. Samuel Nertey George, has expressed gratitude to the speaker and the Parliamentary leadership for seeing to the successful passage of the bill.
