Ghana's Parliament passed a legislation on Friday that intensifies a crackdown on the rights of the LGBTQ people and those promoting lesbian, gay or other non-conventional sexual or gender identities in the West African country.
With gay sex already punishable by upto three years in prison. The bill now imposes a prison sentence of upto five years and five months for the willful promotion, sponsorship or support of the LGBTQ+ activities.
The bill proposed by the Ghanain Parliament is one of the harshest of its kind in Africa and has been the first to be suggested in a West African country.
" My heart is broken and devastated at the moment that's all i can say for now" Angel Maxine, Ghana's first openly transgender musician and LGBTQI+ activist told Reuters adding " My pronouns are she/ hers/her"
A coalition of Christian, Muslim and Ghanaian traditional leaders sponsored the legislation . Following the legislation, the bill will be presented to the country's head of state Nana Akufo Addo after which he has seven days to assent or refuse to assent according to the constitution of Ghana.
lf he assents, the bill becomes a law which becomes the second law in the country's constitution to fight against the LGBTQI+.
Akufo-Addo had avoided the heated debate over the bill but he said he'll react once it has been voted by Parliament.
There has been expression of worry by many international activists from Africa over the bill which has high chances of being turned into a law within the next seven days.
Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of the United Nations Aids Agency UNAIDS, said in a statement that the bill would affect everyone if it became a law adding that punitive laws as embodied by the bill are a barrier to ending AIDS and ultimately undermine everyone's health.
" lt will exacerbate fear and hatred, could incite violence against fellow Ghanaian citizens and will negatively impact free speech, freedom of movement, and freedom of association" Byanyima said in the statement released after the bill had been passed.
lf the president Nana Akufo-Addo assents the bill and it becomes a law, it will obstruct access to life saving services, undercut social protection and jeopardise Ghana's development and success she added.
The former OXFAM boss as well as mother to transgender quire son continues to criticse the bill which has been viewed as indirect intervention by the Ghanaian traditionalists who spear headed the sponsorship of the bill.
Ghana now joins the list of the 6 African countries that have strongly pushed against the induction of the LGBTQI+ which has been effected through passing strict laws that crackdown on the activities of these abnormal persons.
Other countries include Uganda, Egypt,Gabon etc
The entire nation only now waits to see wether the president asents or declines the bill.
