The Minority Caucus on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has slammed the government for what it describes as ‘double standards’ in its handling of LGBTQ+ related issues in the country.

In a statement dated Thursday, July 10, 2025, the committee, led by the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, addressed Ghana’s abstention from voting on LGBTQ rights at the UN Human Rights Council.

He accused the government of displaying indifference toward the anti-LGBTQ+ bill being advocated in the country.

“Ghana’s decision to abstain from this vote is, thus, a sign of Government’s indifference to proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values which they promised to uphold.

“The Government’s failure to lay the Anti-Gay Bill in Parliament for it to be passed into law, and its consistent abstinence from votes relating to LGBTQ is clear manifestation of its double standards on LGBTQ issues and the promotion of Ghanaian family values,” it read.

The Minority stated that the government’s current actions stand in stark contrast to its earlier position, highlighting how, while in opposition, it had pledged to enforce the bill’s legislation.

It argued that the government could have clearly communicated its stance through the vote, but instead chose to abstain, thereby asserting its complicity.

“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,” the statement said.

It rejected the explanation provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, describing it as misleading and a complete falsehood.

“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 caucus added, “Our criminal laws already criminalise certain practices relating to LGBTQ which are at variance with Ghanaians' values and practices. It is, therefore, disappointing that on two separate occasions, this very Government has failed to join other like-minded countries to project these Ghanaian values and norms at the international level.

“While we do not support any form of violence against any person, including persons who identify as LGBTQ, we remain committed to upholding the integrity of our nation and defending her norms, values and practices, both home and abroad, and urge the general public to join us on this noble cause for people and country.”



MAG/EB

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