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Rights activists condemn the legislation that will punish those that promote LGBTQ folks in addition to homosexual rights with years in jail.
Ghana's parliament has voted to move a controversial invoice to severely limit LGBTQ rights, a transfer condemned by rights activists.
A coalition of spiritual and conventional leaders sponsored the legislation, which was supported by most lawmakers and handed parliament on Wednesday.
The invoice would impose jail sentences on those that take part in LGBTQ sexual acts, in addition to those that promote the rights of homosexual, lesbian or different non-traditional sexual or gender identities.
The invoice, probably the most stringent of its type in Africa, nonetheless must be validated by the President earlier than coming into into legislation, which observers consider is unlikely earlier than the overall elections in December.
Activist teams have described the “Human Sexual Rights and Household Values” invoice as a blow to human rights and urged the federal government of President Nana Akufo-Addo to reject it.
However the legislation has widespread assist in Ghana, the place Akufo-Addo has stated homosexual marriage won’t ever be allowed whereas he’s in energy.
Generally often called the Anti-Homosexual Invoice, it obtained sponsorship from a coalition of Christian, Muslim and Ghanaian conventional leaders, garnering substantial assist amongst members of parliament.
Homosexual intercourse is already unlawful within the non secular West African nation, however discrimination towards LGBTQ folks is widespread, however nobody has been prosecuted underneath the colonial-era legislation.
Beneath the provisions of the invoice, those that take part in LGBTQ sexual acts could possibly be sentenced to 6 months to a few years in jail.
The invoice additionally gives for a jail sentence of three to 5 years for “knowingly selling, sponsoring or supporting LGBTQ+ actions.”
'Human rights violation'
A human rights coalition in Ghana, often called the Massive 18, a bunch of attorneys and activists has condemned the invoice.
“You possibly can't criminalize an individual's identification and that's what the invoice is doing and it's completely fallacious,” stated coalition member Takiva Manuah.
“We need to put stress on the president to not approve the invoice, which fully violates the human rights of the LGBT neighborhood,” Manuh advised AFP information company.
The invoice's principal sponsor, opposition lawmaker Sam George, met with Akufo-Addo to conform to it.
“There’s nothing higher associated to LGBTQ points than this invoice handed by Parliament. We count on the President to observe by and dwell as much as his phrases,” George stated.
Members of Ghana's LGBTQ neighborhood are involved in regards to the implications of the invoice.
Alex Donkor, founder and director of the group LGBT+ Rights Ghana, stated, “The passage of this invoice will additional marginalize and endanger LGBTQ people in Ghana.”
“This not solely legitimizes discrimination but additionally fosters a local weather of concern and oppression,” he stated.
“With harsh penalties for each LGBTQ people and activists, this invoice threatens the security and well-being of an already susceptible neighborhood.”