Ghanaian politician and member of parliament for Ningo-Prampram constituency, Sam George, has criticized US Vice President Kamala Harris for her comments on LGBTQ rights in Ghana.Speaking at a joint press conference with President Akufo-Addo on Monday, Harris expressed her support for the freedom and equality of all, including the LGBTQ community.

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However, Sam George, a key proponent of Ghana's anti-LGBTQ bill or the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, criticized Harris's comments and suggested that she focus on school shootings in the United States rather than LGBTQ issues in Ghana.“Mrs Kamala Harris should be the last person to come and talk about human rights in Ghana.

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In the country where she is a vice president, in the United States, a gun woman, a lady in her 20s walked into a school with (inaudible), shot and killed three school children and three adults. Those are the human rights of her country’s citizens that Kamala Harris should be worried about. ….on a daily basis, more people die from gun violence in the US than malaria kills in Africa or in Ghana. That should be of concern to her.

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Kamala Harris is a woman of colour, if she wasn’t a senator first or wasn’t the vice president of America, she most likely could have possibly been a victim like other Black Americans like George Floyd of white police brutality … Those are the human rights issues Kamala Harris should be worried about because those are what the people who voted for her in America are expecting her to focus on,” he said.

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The Bill, which was introduced as a private bill by eight MPs in July 2021, aims to prohibit advocacy of same-sex or homosexual practices in the country and is under review in parliament.Several local and international human rights advocacy groups have expressed concern about Bill's existence and its supposed infringement on the rights of LGBTQ+ persons.President Akufo-Addo, however, has disassociated himself from the bill.

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Speaking at the same press conference with Harris, he clarified that his administration has no hand in the proposition of the bill.

legislation was a legislation that is being proposed as a Private Members Bill. This is not an official legislation of the government, but it is one that is being mooted by a handful of private members” he said.He added that “the bill is going through the

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Parliament [and] the Attorney has found it necessary to speak to the committee about it regarding the constitutionality or otherwise, of several of its provisions and the Parliament is dealing with it. “At the end of the process, I will come in, but in the meantime, the Parliament is dealing with it.

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And then I have no doubt that the Parliament of Ghana will show as it’s done in the past, first of all, its sensitivity to human rights issues as well as to the feelings of our population, and we’ll come out with the responsible response,” he added.

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However, several legislators have expressed disappointment in both Harris's and Akufo-Addo's responses on the subject, with Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin declaring his support for the bill and suggesting that it will be passed.“This thing should not be tolerated. That is undemocratic. That someone else would have to dictate as to what is good and what’s bad? It’s unheard of.

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Because we have decided to devalue ourselves and go begging? Come on. The Bill will be passed. This is a word to the President of the Republic, there is no way you can intervene,” he noted.The divergent views of Harris and George on the issue of LGBTQ rights in Ghana highlight the complexity of the issue in the country.

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While international organizations advocate for the protection of LGBTQ+ rights as a fundamental human right obligation, proponents of the anti-LGBTQ bill argue that the promotion of LGBTQ rights is incompatible with Ghanaian culture and family values.The debate also raises questions about the relationship between Ghana and the United States, particularly with regard to future US aid initiatives in the country.

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While President Akufo-Addo's disassociation from the bill may alleviate concerns in this regard, the tension between the two countries on this issue is likely to continue.As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Ghana's anti-LGBTQ bill will be successfully passed and how the country's relationship with the United States will be affected.

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LGBTQ+ and AfricaThe legislation enjoys broad public support in UgandaThe LGBTQ agenda has been a contentious issue in Africa, with a majority of African countries criminalizing homosexuality.This stance is rooted in cultural and religious beliefs that view homosexuality as a deviation from societal norms.

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However, over the years, there has been a growing movement to promote LGBTQ rights, but it has faced fierce opposition from conservative groups.Uganda's recent passing of a bill that criminalizes homosexuality is a clear indication of the country's stance on the issue. The bill imposes life imprisonment for same-sex relations and criminalizes the promotion of LGBTQ rights.

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This move has been criticized by human rights organizations and Western countries who view it as a violation of fundamental human rights.On the other hand, Ghana has taken a different approach to the LGBTQ issue. Although homosexuality is illegal in Ghana, the country has not been as aggressive in enforcing the law.

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The country's leaders have also shown some level of tolerance towards the LGBTQ community, with some leaders calling for a dialogue on the issue. However, conservative groups in Ghana have also been vocal in their opposition to the LGBTQ agenda.The East African LGBTQ community has been under siege, with many facing discrimination and violence.

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There have been reports of attacks on LGBTQ individuals and organizations, with some facing imprisonment and harassment.This situation has forced many LGBTQ people to flee their countries and seek asylum in other countries.Africa's stance on the LGBTQ agenda is a complex issue, with cultural and religious beliefs playing a significant role.

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While some countries have taken a more tolerant approach, others have criminalized homosexuality, leading to a hostile environment for the LGBTQ community. It is essential to promote dialogue on the issue and work towards promoting tolerance and acceptance for all individuals regardless of their sexual orientation.Source: The Independent Ghana

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