Ghana’s anti-LGBTQI+ Bill: A threat to democracy and economic stability, warns Dr. Yao Graham
In a stark critique of Ghana’s recently passed Anti-LGBTQI+ bill, Dr. Yao Graham, a prominent member of the “Big 18,” has voiced concerns over its constitutional implications and the potential threat it poses to the country’s democratic fabric.
Speaking on the NorvanReports’ and Economic Governance Platform (EGP) X Space on the topic “Potential Economic Impact of Ghana’s Anti-LGBTQI Bill”, Dr. Graham emphasized that the legislation not only infringes upon the rights of Ghanaians but also presents a broader risk to the nation’s democratic principles.
Dr. Graham, a staunch advocate for constitutional adherence, asserted that the bill’s impact extends beyond the LGBTQI+ community, affecting the rights of all Ghanaians. He cautioned against the precedent set by such legislation, warning that today’s target might be the LGBTQI+ community, but tomorrow it could be another minority within society.
“Today it’s gay people, tomorrow it might another minority group in the society,” he remarked.
Expressing his dismay, Dr. Graham underscored the need for Ghanaians to be vigilant in protecting the constitutional foundations of the nation. He criticized the bill as an attempt to create a repressive environment for the LGBTQI+ community, asserting that it reflects a departure from constitutional principles.
“We should be worried that we have a speaker and parliamentarians who are ready to disregard the constitution, the bill is not an initiative by gay people to expand their rights. They have not made any demand on Parliament, it’s just a few people who want to create a repressive climate for gay people,” he stated.
Highlighting the socio-economic context, Dr. Graham noted that Ghana is currently grappling with an economic crisis. In this precarious situation, he cautioned against pursuing legislative measures that could lead to potential losses in funding from international donors.
Dr. Graham argued that the country should prioritize economic stability over what he deemed as “heroic acts” that may have adverse implications for the nation’s financial landscape.
“Ghana is currently in an economic crisis and this is not the time to undertake heroic acts and make sacrifices that will adversely affect the economy (sic),” he quipped.
The “Big 18” and Human Rights Coalition operating under the auspices of CDD-Ghana, have called on the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, not to assent to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2021 popularly called the Anti-LGBTQI Bill passed by Parliament.
The assent of the Anti-LGBTQI by the President, the “Big 18” and Human Rights Coalition asserts, violates key fundamental human rights provisions in Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
They argue that, in one swoop, the Bill seeks to infringe on, among others, the rights to dignity, freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom to partake in processions, academic freedom, equality, and nondiscrimination.
The “Big 18” refers to a group of lawyers that came together to oppose the passage of the Anti-LGBTQI Bill by Parliament when the subject became topical on the floor of Parliament and in the country.
