By: Spendilove Incoom
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement addressing recent media reports concerning Ghana’s vote at the 59th Session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC59) on the mandate of the Independent Expert on Protection Against Violence and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI).
According to the Ministry, contrary to some media claims, Ghana did not vote on LGBTQI+ rights. Instead, the country abstained from voting on the renewal of the mandate of the Independent Expert a role focused on monitoring and reporting violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
“There was no vote on the support of LGBTQI for which Ghana abstained,” the Ministry clarified, emphasizing that the vote in question centered specifically on protection against violence and not support for LGBTQI+ rights.
The statement further explained that Ghana’s abstention was grounded in constitutional principles, particularly Chapter 5, Article 17 of the 1992 Constitution, which prohibits discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or social and economic status.
Ghana’s Position on Gender and Sexual Identity
In a submission during the HRC session, Ghana’s Permanent Representative reiterated the country’s traditional stance on gender, stating:
“Our understanding of the traditional definition of gender is the male sex or female sex, especially when considered with reference to social and cultural differences… Sex in our view refers to either of the two main categories (male and female) into which humans and most other living things are divided.”
The Ministry emphasized that it is mindful of the Ghanaian public’s general opposition to LGBTQI+ rights and assured the public that government policy will not contradict this position.
The resolution in question requests the Independent Expert to continue reporting annually to both the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly on their mandate’s implementation.
Below is the official press statement;
