Private Legal Practitioner and NDC Communication Team Member, Hamza Sayibu Suhuyini, has attributed Ghana’s recent abstention at the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC59) to the previous NPP government’s failure to assent to the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.
Speaking on 3FM Sunrise with Helen Appiah-Ampofo on July 10, Mr. Suhuyini said the country’s inability to take a firm “Yes” or “No” stance during the vote on whether to renew the mandate of the UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity was directly linked to former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s inaction.
“If they (NPP) had signed the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, it would have been easier for our reps at the UN meeting to vote NO. Because the basis of voting NO would have been on the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, Nana Addo refused to sign. But today, if we proceeded to vote NO, that would have been a violation of a constitutional provision.” He said.
Mr. Suhuyini again explained that “until such a time that we have the LGBTQ+ Bill passed in law, we cannot go and vote YES to something like this and that is the reason why it was in our interest as a country to abstain until we provide clarity because we have not criminalized it in law.” He justified.
The NDC Communication Team Member, however, argued that Ghana’s decision to abstain was a strategic constitutional choice, not an endorsement of LGBTQ+ rights.
“The government’s decision to abstain from voting on the UN Human Rights vote to renew the mandate on the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity was not to offend the 1992 Constitution as it stands now. Hoping that the LGBTQ+ bill will eventually become law to give the government the impetus to be able to vote No in any future vote. That is all. So, it is not an endorsement of LGBTQ +.” Mr. Suhuyini said.
