Ghana's passage of Anti-gay Bill will hurt its international reputation if assented – US Ambassador

Ghana’s passage of Anti-gay Bill will hurt its international reputation if assented – US Ambassador

The United States Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Evelyn Palmer, has expressed her disappointment over the passage of the anti-LGBTQI+ Bill by Ghana’s Parliament on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.

According to the American diplomat who has served as the United States Ambassador to Ghana since 2022, the bill’s passage will hurt her host country’s international reputation if assented.

The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values bill now imposes a prison sentence of up to five years for the promotion, sponsorship, or support of LGBTQ+ activities.

Persons found guilty of these acts could face a jail term ranging from 6 months to 3 years, while those who promote and sponsor these acts could be imprisoned for 3 to 5 years.

The anti-LGBTQI+ Bill, following its passage, is expected to be forwarded to the President’s desk to be assented into law.

Reacting to the development, the US Ambassador stated that the bill will not only deprive the fundamental human rights of Ghanaians but also undermines their “constitutional rights to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of the press.”

“It will also hurt Ghana’s international reputation and Ghana’s economy,” the US Ambassador to Ghana opined in a post on X formerly Twitter.