We, LGBT+ Rights Ghana: a movement of Lest)ian, Gav, Bisexual,
Transgender, Oueer (LGBTO+> persons in Ghana with humilitv, address
the president of the 4lh republic «f Ghana H. E President Nana Addo
Danquah Akufo-Addo
Dear President Nana Akufo-Addo,
As this month of March mark the 64th Independence of Ghana, LGBTQ+ Ghanaians’ existence is being threatened by the colonial residue of homophobia and bigotry. 64 years after illustrious Ghanaians proclaimed to be guided by the spirit and principles offc‘freedom and justice”, we find ourselves here in the future divided by hostility and bigotry encouraged by some lawmakers and promoted by the press. After 64 yeaTs of priding ourselves as Africa’s gateway to freedom and unity, of having our democratic practices lauded on international fronts, some members of parliament sworn (o protect (he rights of all citizens are calling for sanctions against an oppressed minority group like ours. The MPs Honorable Sam Nartcy George. Honorable Andy Appiah-Kubi. Honorable Reverend John N. Furdjour. Honorable Samuel Okudzclo Ablakwa, Honorable Kwcku Abiinic- B out eng. Honorable Helen Adwoa Ntoso. Honorable Fruncisca Otcng Mensah, and Honorable Emmanuel Bedzrah, have declared their stance against LGBTQ+ Ghanaians and aim to use their positions to introduce harmful bills to parliament in order to further oppress LGBTQ+ people in Ghana. It is also disheartening that lhe M inişler designate for Gender. Children and Social Protection. Honorable Adwoa Safo, would call the rights of LGBTQ+ Ghanaians non-ncgotiable. We, however, acknowledge the argument made by Honorable Mahama Ayariga on freedom of speech, freedom of belief, freedom of conscience and freedom of associaiion as LGBTQ+ Ghanaians.
The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has poinied out ull the grounds for which LGBTQ+ Ghanaians are allowed by law. to ciraie our own space where we can come together to plan, socialize and advocate for our freedoms and liberties. CHRAJ in their press statement stated that “The point must be made that Ghana, as a nation State, has ratified several international human rights instruments.
These human rights treaties impose obligations on the State of Ghana co respect, fiilfil and protect the rights of all persons within its jurisdiction”. Some members of parliament, activists, opinion makers, artists and influencers as well as the Ghanaian diaspora and international bodies have added their voice to the injustice served by the raid and closure of our office and safe space. Mr. President, as a human rights lawyer, your very profession tells of your capacity to understand what (his bodes for the Ghanaian LGBTQ+ Community in terms of erasure, security and freedom. Your statements about not legalizing same sex marriage not only evaded the conversation of our oppression, it also reinforced homophobic bigotry and emboldened some Ghanaians to cause harm to their fellow citizens. In Teshie Barracks, a soldier abused someone because he couldn’t identify whether they were man or woman. There have been kidnappings of suspected LGBTQ persons in the Central region. There have been numerous cases of forced marriages among Muslim queer women, homophobic corrective rape and gang rapes of queer women that happens frequently which goes unchecked. There have been beatings, lynching and blackmails happening to the LGBTQ+ Ghanaian comnuiniiy which is fueled by the hateful rhetoric by people in (he positions of power and wc do not get justice for these crimes. Outbreaks like these arc on the rise across the country. Mr. Pres ideni, our plea is not one that seeks to institutionalize same-sex civil unions. Ours at this very point is to have some peace in our country and to feel safe. Ours is asking that the sitate protects us from harm, and (hat our sexual identities do not become weaponized as a tool of oppression in violating our rights as established under the conslilulion. In 2017, your position on the subject during the interview on Aljazeera gave us HOPE that finally we had a President who understood the dynamics of the issue at hand and whose government would be tolerant to the rights of minoritized groups like us. Even when you came under fire from the religious and faith-based organizations, we were hopeful that the HUMAN RIGHTS champion and advocate that you have been over the years was going to provide you strength in overcoming the onslaught that came your way. And even after you capitulated on your initial position, we still harbored great hope within our community that our lives under your government will be better than before. But events since that time have rather worsened our plight and made us become more endangered. Never in our struggle for rights have we encountered not just powerful religious leaders turning our society against us. but to also now have the state and government itself SANCTIONING HOMOPHOBIA against us as Bona fide citizen?; of the country.
As activists, we will continue to work in ensuring that the freedoms that are captured within the constitution and promised to all Ghanaians are made available to us as well. We will continuously resist oppressors’ rule and fight for a Ghana where our citizenship is not determined based on our perceived sexuality or any other form of oppressive identity construct. We are therefore calling on you Mr. President, our Parliamentarianj;. Opinion Leaders, CHRAJ, and all Religious Leaders to heed to the message of love, tolerance, and solidarity (hat our scriptures and traditions uphold. We call on you. and encourage you to adhere to our Local and International laws to protect the rights of all. in the spirit of Unity in Diversity, especially in our globalized era. We encourage you again Mr. President to take this opportunity among other feats of yours, to significantly contribute in this context, to hiMory. We ask that you remember your oath to serve all manner of persons, and to protect all persons under your charge.
Signed, Alex Kofi Donkor
Director LGBT+ Rights Ghana
Director@lgbuightsghana.org
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