LGBT activists and members of the Ghanaian community are waiting to see if the president of the West African nation will sign a bill into law that would further restrict their rights and probably make the persecution that many of them already endure worse.
Gay man Kwame, who spoke to Reuters under the condition that his true name not be revealed, is already scarred by the pervasive intolerance of homosexuality in Ghana.
“I was born with two eyes, but this is what I have today,” the 30-year-old stated, taking off his huge glasses to show up the eye that was injured in the 2021 attack by neighbors because of his sexual orientation.
He expressed concern that the crackdown would give those who believe they may attack LGBT people with impunity more confidence and “empower… people to be deadly,” saying, “Imagine if the bill becomes law.”
The bill was passed by Parliament in February with majority consent, but President Nana Akufo-Addo has refused to sign it because of two ongoing supreme court challenges, according to his office.
The High Court in Accra was supposed to announce a ruling on a legislator’s request to force Akufo-Addo to sign the bill into law within seven days on Thursday, but it continued the tense legal standoff until April 29.
The proposed rule would additionally impose a prison penalty of up to five years for the advocacy or support of homosexual activity, which is currently punished by up to three years in prison sentence of up to five years for the promotion or support of LGBT rights, making it one of the harshest of its kind in Africa.
Though they don’t have enough money to go, Kwame and his partner—who live separately for safety reasons—think that leaving Ghana before the law takes effect would be their best course of action.
Partner Suleman, who is also gay, expressed his feelings of pressure to keep his sexual orientation and their love a secret from friends and family, saying, “It’s a mental fight but I owe (it to) myself to be strong.”
Ghana’s culturally conservative society is plagued with homophobia. Obtaining employment or housing can be difficult, and openly Gay people face social exclusion. Although attacks and hostility are frequent, few of these cases end up in court.
Human Rights Watch cautioned in March that the new law could “lead to greater senseless violence against LGBT persons and their allies,” and they urged Akufo-Addo to veto it.
His seeming reluctance to sign has also triggered a political row.
Parliamentary Speaker Alban Bagbin said to members on March 20 that the president’s delay was unconstitutional and recommended that in protest, the legislature cease confirming new cabinet nominations.
Those who are concerned about the law’s wider societal implications are feeling a lot of uncertainty about what will happen next.
LGBT rights campaigner Emmanuel Owusu-Bonsu, who does not consider himself a member of the group, described the situation as “dangerous.”
“Ghanian people seem to be on the verge of being armed, so anyone can hold a gun at you and call you a gay, lesbian, or whatever and get away with it.”
(Reuters)
