Sam George

Prof Gadzekpo, Prof Manuh, others are being accused of taking monies to advocate against anti-LGBT+ bill, this is According to Sam George.

The anti-LGBT+ bill, which was passed by the Ghanaian Parliament on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, has been a subject of heated debate, drawing lines between human rights advocates and those pushing for its enactment. According to George, the criticisms from certain quarters are not grounded in concerns over human rights or legal redundancies, as some have argued, but are instead the result of financial influence from pro-LGBTQ+ organizations. “They are taking money to do the advocacy that they are doing,” George stated emphatically, putting on record his allegations that these individuals and institutions are being funded to challenge the bill.

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This legislation, now awaiting presidential assent, seeks to criminalize LGBTQ+ activities, including their promotion, advocacy, and funding, with penalties ranging from six months to five years in prison, depending on the nature of the offense. Its proponents argue that the bill is necessary to protect Ghanaian societal values and family structures, while detractors warn of the grave implications for human rights and the legal precedent it sets.

Emerita Prof. Takyiwaa Manuh and Prof Audrey Gadzekpo, among others, have voiced their opposition to the bill, arguing that existing laws already address the concerns it purports to tackle. They assert that the bill’s true aim is not to fill a legal void but to infringe upon the rights and freedoms guaranteed to all Ghanaians under the constitution, regardless of their sexual orientation or identity.

Prof Gadzekpo, in particular, has accused Sam George of pursuing the bill’s passage for political gain, suggesting an ulterior motive tied to his political career. Her remarks reference George’s past defense of LGBTQ+ rights in the context of political affiliations, highlighting a perceived inconsistency in his stance.

The bill’s progression to presidential assent is a critical juncture in Ghana’s legislative process, with potential implications far beyond the LGBTQ+ community. It touches upon fundamental issues of human rights, freedom of expression, and the role of law in regulating private life. As the nation waits to see whether President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will sign the bill into law or if it will face further scrutiny, the debate underscores the deep divisions within Ghanaian society over the issue of LGBTQ+ rights and the lengths to which some are willing to go to protect or deny these rights.

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