BY JIBRIL TURE

A press release from the Office of the U.S. Department of State’s spokesperson earlier this afternoon (Wednesday, Feb. 28), states that the U.S. Government is “troubled” by the Ghanaian Parliament’s passage of a piece of legislation which, Washington says, “would threaten all Ghanaians’ constitutionally protected freedoms of speech, press, and assembly.”

The new piece of legislation, called “the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill,” is intended to criminalize people who identify as LGBTQ+ and anybody who does not report them to the authorities. To no surprise, the bill has been decried by some Ghanaians.

For the U.S. Government, “limiting the rights of one group in a society undermines the rights of all.” In the press release, “The United States echoes the call by those Ghanaians who have urged a review of the constitutionality of the bill to protect the rights of all individuals in Ghana.”

Washington fears “the bill would also undermine Ghana’s valuable public health, media and civic spaces, and economy,” thereby echoing the sentiments of international business coalitions that “such discrimination in Ghana would harm business and economic growth in the country.”

The United States recalls “Ghana’s tradition of tolerance, peace and respect for human rights,” describing it “as a source of stability and prosperity that has long served as a model for countries around the globe.” If this legislation becomes law, Washington says, it would “undermine this laudable tradition.”

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