Ghana’s Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill Is ‘Deeply Harmful’…I Call For It Not To Become law! – UN High Commissioner

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk has condemned the passage of anti-LGBTQ+ bill by Ghana’s Parliament.

The bill criminalizes all activities of the LGBTQ community; culprits will face a jail term from 6 months to 5 years.

Expressing his views, the UN High Commissioner described the bill as “deeply harmful”.

According to him, “anti-LGBTQ+ bill passed by Parliament is deeply harmful for everyone. It should not become law. Everyone has the right to live free from violence and discrimination – LGBTQ+ people included”, according to a publication by UTV.

Mr. Türk also argued that “the bill broadens the scope of criminal sanctions against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transexual and queer people – simply for being who they are – and threatens criminal penalties against perceived allies of LGBTQ+ people”.

He implored the Government of Ghana to cancel the bill saying “I call for the bill not to become law. I urge the Ghanaian Government to take steps to ensure everyone can live free from violence, stigma and discrimination, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Consensual same-sex conduct should never be criminalized”.

This, he said in a press release published on the website of the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner.

The bill however awaits the assent of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, before it becomes law.

Source: Ghmessenger.com