The Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Alban Bagbin, in a memo recently sent out, assured anti-LGBTQ campaigners that critical actions are being taken to make LGBTQI activities in Ghana illegal.
The memo, dated 15th June and in response to a prior letter from Political Activist, Mr Emmanuel Abankwah Kesse, had the subject: “An appeal to Parliament to Amend our Human Rights Law To Fight LGBTs and Their Activities in Ghana.”
In the prior letter from Mr Emmanuel to the speaker of the parliament, he writes, “It has come to my notice that, some Human Rights Activists and the LGBTs themselves have recently launched an online campaign upon hearing the arrest of 21 LGBT members in Ho”. He adds, “LGBT is an abomination and shouldn’t be encouraged in Ghana here.”
In May 2021, Political Activist Emmanuel Abankwah Kesse known by many as Olumanba petitioned parliament to as a matter of urgency pass anti-LGBTQ laws in Ghana.
This is the letter the Speaker of Parliament has responded to and assured him that Ghana will pass anti-LGBTQ laws. pic.twitter.com/wIwFgV61q1
— Rightify Ghana (@RightifyGhana) June 23, 2021
“Urgent actions are being taken to pass a law to eventually nip the activities of these groups in the bud. Stakeholder consultations are also ongoing, and the results will feed into a bill that will eventually be passed into law by Parliament,” the letter reads. “Please accept the assurances of my highest consideration.”
The Speaker of Ghana's Parliament, Alban Bagbin assures anti-LGBTQ campaigners in a letter that urgent actions are being taken to make clear laws against LGBTQI activities in Ghana.
He added that there are ongoing stakeholder consultations to feed into a bill for that purpose. pic.twitter.com/1pOjPhVNIr
— Rightify Ghana (@RightifyGhana) June 23, 2021
“There is an ongoing homophobic campaign urging Ghana’s Parliament to clearly criminalise LGBTQI activities including advocacy,” Rightify Ghana, a human rights organization in Ghana tweets.
