The Minority Caucus in Parliament has strongly criticized the Government of Ghana for abstaining from a recent vote at the United Nations Human Rights
The Minority Caucus in Parliament has strongly criticized the Government of Ghana for abstaining from a recent vote at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) concerning the extension of a mandate protecting LGBTQ persons against violence and discrimination.
In a press statement signed by the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minority described the move as a betrayal of Ghanaian values and a reflection of the Government’s increasing double standards on LGBTQ-related issues.
The vote, held during the 59th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, sought to renew the mandate of the UN Independent Expert on Protection Against Violence and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (IE SOGI).
Ghana chose to abstain — a decision the Minority says contradicts the country’s professed stance on the promotion of “proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values.”
Historical Context
Ghana’s ambiguous positioning on LGBTQ matters is not new. The mandate of the IE SOGI was originally created in June 2016 through Resolution 32/2, during President Mahama’s administration.
Ghana abstained from the initial vote, aligning with a small minority of states — while many African countries, including Nigeria, Algeria, Togo, and Ethiopia, outrightly rejected it.
Subsequent renewals of the mandate occurred in 2019 and 2022 through Resolutions 41/18 and 50/10, respectively.
Ghana did not participate in those decisions, as it was not a member of the Human Rights Council at the time. Having rejoined the Council in 2024, Ghana was once again presented with an opportunity to clarify its position but chose to sit on the fence.
This continued pattern of abstention, according to the Minority, sends a conflicting signal to both the international community and the Ghanaian public.
Ministry’s Explanation Rejected as “Misinformation”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier issued a statement suggesting Ghana abstained because the question before the Council was whether persons identifying as LGBTQI should be protected from violence and discrimination — an implication that voting against the resolution would amount to endorsing violence.
However, the Minority insists this is a gross misrepresentation.
The true nature of the vote, they argue, was not about protection from violence, which Ghana already upholds under its general human rights framework, but rather about legitimizing LGBTQ identities and practices — something the Ghanaian Constitution does not explicitly recognize.
“The claim that Ghana abstained in line with Chapter Five of the Constitution is misleading,” said Jinapor.
“Article 12 of the Constitution makes it clear that fundamental human rights are subject to the public interest — and the public interest in Ghana is aligned with promoting family values, not sexual identities that contradict those values.”
Contradiction with Domestic Legislation
The Minority’s statement also highlighted inconsistencies between the Government’s international posturing and its domestic rhetoric.
The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), while in opposition, was a key proponent of the “Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values” Bill — also known as the Anti-LGBTQ Bill — which is still pending in Parliament.
They argue that the IE SOGI mandate directly challenges such legislative efforts.
In fact, in a recent report presented to the Council in April 2025, the UN Independent Expert openly called for the decriminalization of LGBTQ practices, advocating for legal recognition of same-sex relationships and gender changes on official documents.
“It is this very kind of activism that Ghana is supporting by abstaining,” said Jinapor.
“We cannot claim to defend Ghanaian values at home and then refuse to join like-minded countries in defending those values abroad.”
Internal Pressure and Public Sentiment
The abstention comes amid increasing public pressure for the Government to take a clear stance on the LGBTQ debate.
Ghanaian society remains largely conservative, with broad opposition to the legalisation or promotion of LGBTQ practices.
The Minority believes the Government’s reluctance to support votes that reaffirm Ghana’s traditional values reflects a political fear of international backlash — particularly from Western donors and rights organisations — rather than a genuine commitment to human rights or constitutional principles.
“The people of Ghana expect moral clarity, not diplomatic ambiguity,” Jinapor declared.
“We are not calling for violence against anyone, but we are calling for honesty and consistency. You can’t campaign on one thing and govern on another.”
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