Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has accused the government of betraying its own promises and displaying double standards on Ghana’s LGBTQ+ policy.
His criticism follows Ghana’s recent abstention from a key vote on LGBTQ issues at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Mr. Jinapor argued that the abstention undermines Ghanaian family values and contradicts the government’s previous stance.
“The Caucus notes with regret the Government’s double standards on the issue of LGBTQ and the Ministry’s attempt to rationalise such double standards,” he said in a statement on behalf of the Minority.
He dismissed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ claim that the vote was about protecting LGBTQ individuals from violence and discrimination.
“That statement is totally false,” Jinapor insisted. “The question before the Council was whether to extend the mandate of the Independent Expert on SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity), which invariably includes the promotion of LGBTQ.”
He further challenged the government’s justification that the abstention aligned with constitutional provisions.
“It cannot be correct that Ghana abstained from the vote because of Chapter Five of the Constitution. Nothing in Article 17 supports individual choice of sexual orientation or gender identity,” he said. “Article 12 clearly states that fundamental human rights are subject to the public interest.”
Mr. Jinapor, who is also the MP for Damongo, recalled that while in opposition, the current government pledged to support legislation such as the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill.
“What the international community calls discrimination includes criminalising LGBTQ activities—activities the government, then in opposition, promised to outlaw,” he noted.
He referenced an April 2025 report by the Independent Expert that called on countries to end all forms of criminalisation of LGBTQ activities—something he said directly contradicts Ghana’s cultural and legal stance.
“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.”
He also criticised the government for failing to pass the Anti-LGBTQ bill in Parliament and for consistently abstaining from related votes at the UN.
“This is a clear manifestation of its double standards on LGBTQ issues and the promotion of Ghanaian family values.”
Mr. Jinapor concluded by reaffirming the Minority’s position.
“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 at home and abroad. We urge the general public to join us on this noble cause for people and country.”
Source: Abubakar Ibrahim
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