In a 69-page anthology of prose, poetry, artwork, and essays, LGBT+ Rights Ghana shared the diverse voices of its community during Pride month. These pieces of writing are a daring gesture of resilience and pride, defying a potential looming legislative menace in the West African nation. Featured authors include Ivy Zeini’s poem, known as Girl, where she discusses the genderless nature of her anger. Benjamin Cyril Arthur centers a cultural connection in a romantic anecdote, while Poetyk Prynx expands the definition of queerness beyond merely physical encounters in On the Cusp of Liberation: Act One and Two.
This act of liberation through literature comes at a time of uncertainty. The organisation’s Communications Head, Ed Hanson, revealed that the circumstances dictated a much subdued Pride month. Pride parades which traditionally exhibit the vibrancy of the queer community in Ghana had to be on hold due to the political humidity resulting from a recently passed bill.
The controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill was introduced in 2021 and green-lighted by parliament in February 2024. Although it faces legal opposition and awaits President Nana Akufo-Addo’s assent, the proposed law can greatly impact Ghana’s LGBT+ community, composed of around 35 million individuals.
Under this legislation, identifying as LGBT+ could attract a jail term ranging from two months to three years. Furthermore, it criminalises advocacy and dissemination of information related to LGBT+ rights, inviting sentences between five and ten years for proponents. Sponsoring or funding activities promoting these rights could also lead to a three to five years sentence. Despite these harsh conditions, the LGBT+ Rights Ghana has vowed to persist in their fight for equality.
According to Hanson, the attendance at this year’s Pride events, physically, was fewer than the years prior. To ensure the safety of those present, various security protocols were put in place, such as name screening and obligatory RSVPs for all attendees, with the venue details only disclosed at the last moment. It was the responsibility of the organisers to pinpoint “queer-friendly areas,” potentially distant from city environments, where attendees could engage in outdoor activities, enjoy music, partake in food and drink, converse, or simply feel at ease.
LGBT+ Rights Ghana, on the other hand, took their endeavours digitally, conducting “colour dialogues” on their social media platforms. These encompassed public debates on topics including mental and physical wellbeing, dating, diverse identities, community building, and an evaluation of queer portrayal in mass media. Hanson stated that a silver lining to the anti-LGBT+ bill is its potency in solidifying the community and driving them to be more vigilant and innovative.
Homosexuality and queerness are often portrayed as foreign and “un-African” by many conservative religious and political figures across Africa, blaming the West for their introduction. Ironically, it’s predominately the Western evangelical churches and religious organisations that lead the crusade against LGBT+ individuals on the continent. Laws interpreted as criminalising same-sex relationships in numerous African nations, such as Ghana, were inherited from legislative acts put into place by European colonisers.
Ghanaian parliament members claimed that the recent anti-homosexuality bill was drafted as a reaction to the creation of a community centre and safe haven in the capital, Accra, by LGBT+ Rights Ghana, during the early part of 2021. Police swiftly closed this centre.
The upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections fall in December in this election year in Ghana. It will not include Akufo-Addo, who has served two terms, as he is banned from running again.
In response to the new bill, Samia Nkrumah, daughter of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, labelled it as “severe, harsh and unjust.” She also called on Akufo-Addo to overrule it this March.
In the midst of an economic crisis, Ghana faces potential significant financial consequences if a certain Bill becomes law. In the middle of 2022, Ghana sought financial relief from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, the Finance Ministry of Ghana has cautioned that this aid programme might be jeopardised by the Bill. This could result in a loss of $3.8 billion in World Bank funding, as the institution’s anti-discrimination policies might clash with the proposed law.
When questioned about the legislation, representatives from both the IMF and the World Bank highlighted that it is still in draft stages and thus, has not become law. Both international organisations, it was noted, do not typically provide commentary on proposed legislation. The IMF representative went on to stress the importance of allowing the legal process to take its course.
Regarding this issue, Hanson, a spokesperson for LGBT+ rights in Ghana, expressed the community’s desire to collaborate and consult with the international community. He particularly emphasised reaching out to queer-led organisations and people of goodwill. However, he further stressed the importance of foreign voices consulting with local individuals before taking a stance.
In the past few years, a funding campaign for LGBT+ Rights Ghana, designed to aid LGBT+ individuals nationwide, has raised almost €65,000 of a required €93,000 total. The campaign highlights the variation in individual needs due to factors including cultural, environmental, educational and social status. In order to achieve societies in Ghana that are safe and inclusive for LGBTQ+ individuals, the campaign proposes a need for a more encompassing vision for the wider Ghanaian populace.
Hanson’s organisation has also reported a rise in blackmail and extortion threats prompted by the discussion of anti-LGBT+ legislation. This has led the organisation to publicly release a list of those blackmailing LGBT+ individuals, including some who feign romantic interests online.
Despite the ongoing issues and uncertainties, Hanson expressed a sense of satisfaction regarding the outcomes of Pride month. He emphasised the significant resilience demonstrated by their group, saying, “We, as a resilient group of individuals, are fully committed to ensuring our perspectives are considered, and that we actively challenge the discrimination and daily adversities we encounter in Ghana as members of the queer community.” He further made it clear that the queer community in Ghana is highly unified, refusing to let any external elements divide them.
Drawing the attention to the comfort people find in communal unity, he said, “That’s exactly what we strive for. Despite governmental attempts to marginalise and isolate us, leaving us feeling dehumanised, we have nevertheless found ways to make individuals feel valued and appreciated, reassured of their importance and their sense of belonging.”