The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clarified the country’s recent vote at the 59th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC59), following widespread media reports that misrepresented the nation’s stance on LGBTQI issues.
According to the Ministry, Ghana did not vote on LGBTQI rights, as suggested by sections of the media, but abstained from a resolution on the renewal of the mandate of the Independent Expert on Protection Against Violence and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI).
The Ministry emphasised that the issue before the Council was not about support for LGBTQI rights, but whether individuals who identify as LGBTQI should be protected from violence and discrimination.
“Ghana abstained in the vote, to be consistent with Chapter 5, Article 17 of the 1992 Constitution, which specifically prohibits discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed, or social and economic status,” the statement read.
The resolution, which Ghana abstained from, requested that the Independent Expert continue to report annually to both the Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly on the implementation of their mandate.
Delivering Ghana’s position at the Council session, the country’s Permanent Representative stated:
“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. Similarly, 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 and used for statistical purposes and policy monitoring.”
The Ministry reiterated that it remains mindful of the Ghanaian public’s general opposition to LGBTQI issues and reaffirmed the government’s strong stance against any policy or action that may undermine this position.
