LGBT Community Applaud Ayariga

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) community in Ghana has acknowledged the defense established by Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central Mahama Ayariga to the effect that the forceful closure of their office was unlawful and a violation of their rights.

This comes after the lawmaker on the floor of Parliament said it was unconstitutional for the police to close the offices of the LGBTQ+ community in Ashongman, Accra.

“Now that closure that happened, if indeed the security agencies of this country were involved I believe that there was an infraction of fundamental human right. Stopping them is a clear violation of our own constitution.”

“You may not like what they are seeking to advocate but then what you do is also create a new platform to advocate your contrary opinion. You can’t punish somebody for expressing that view but you can punish them if they practice it,” he said.

However in a letter addressed to President Nana Akufo-Addo calling on him to uphold laws that protect their rights, the LGBT+ Rights Ghana said the arguments made by Mr Ayariga has been noted and recognized by the community.

“It is disheartening that the Minister-Designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Honourable Adwoa Safo, would call the rights of LGBTQ+ Ghanaians non-negotiable. We, however, acknowledge the argument made by Honourable Mahama Ayariga on freedom of speech, freedom of belief, freedom of conscience and freedom of association as LGBTQ+ Ghanaians,” the letter signed by the LGBT+ Rights Ghana Director, Alex Kofi Donkor” the letter indicated.

The conversation of legalizing LGBTQI in Ghana has been ongoing for some time now with some international celebrities like Idris Elba and Naomi Campbell signing a letter in solidarity with the group.

Prior to that the police on February 24 stormed and locked the LGBTQ office at Ashongman in Accra in the wake of public discourse over their operations.

Pro-gay rights activists in the country argued that the law does not explicitly outlaw the act aside from its criminalization of unnatural carnal knowledge adding that government must protect their interests as citizens.

However, anti-gay rights advocates, National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Value and religious factions such as the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), National Peace Council, National Chief Imam have further advanced arguments for the government to dispel the ambiguity surrounding the laws on sexuality.

In response to the brouhaha, President Akufo-Addo on Saturday, February 27, stated emphatically that same-sex marriage will not be legalised under his Presidency.

“For same-sex marriage to be legalized in Ghana, it will not happen in my time as President. I have said it before, and let me stress it again, that it will not be under the Presidency of Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo that same-sex marriage will be legal” he stressed.