The Minority Caucus has condemned government’s decision to abstain from a crucial vote on LGBTQ issues at the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The NPP MPs described the move as a betrayal of Ghanaian values and a worrying sign of indifference.
Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and Damongo MP, Samuel Abu Jinapor, issued the criticism in a press statement, warning that “abstention is complicity.”
Mr. Jinapor said the abstention, which occurred during the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, amounted to tacit support for the controversial mandate of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (IE SOGI).He argued that by choosing not to vote, Ghana lost an opportunity to affirm its position on LGBTQ issues.
“Ghana returned to the Human Rights Council in January 2024, and had the opportunity at this 59th Session of the Council to make a statement in respect of her position on LGBTQ, through the vote on the resolution to extend the mandate of the IE SOGI, but again, chose to abstain,” he stated.
He criticised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ explanation that the vote was only about protecting people from violence and discrimination.“The statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that ‘the question before the Council was whether persons who identify as LGBTQI should be protected against violence and discrimination or not’ is totally false,” Jinapor said.
“The question before the Council was whether to extend the mandate of the IE SOGI… which invariably includes the promotion of LGBTQ.”
He pointed out that many African countries voted against the resolution, not because they condone violence, but because they oppose the underlying agenda.
