The Member of Parliament for Bosome Freho, Nana Asafo-Adjei, has criticized the Ghanaian government’s decision to abstain from a recent United Nations vote on LGBTQ rights.
The vote, which took place on July 7, 2025, during the UN Human Rights Council’s 59th session, saw 29 member states vote in favor of renewing the mandate of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, while 15 states voted against.
Making an appearance on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, Nana Asafo-Adjei described the government’s abstention as “hypocritical,” arguing that they should have voted against the resolution.
He believes that the former President Nana Addo government’s failure to take a firm stance on the matter led to political repercussions.
“If they have 3 mandate and you want to limit it to the violence part, what about the promotion, what about the awareness creation?” he questioned.
Government’s Clarification
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clarified that Ghana’s abstention was not a vote in support of LGBTQ+ rights, but rather a reflection of the country’s constitutional and cultural values.
According to the Ministry, the vote was about protecting individuals from violence and discrimination, not about promoting or supporting LGBTQ+ rights.
Constitutional Context
Ghana’s 1992 Constitution prohibits discrimination on grounds of gender, race, color, ethnic origin, religion, creed, or social and economic status, as stated in Chapter 5, Article 17. The government maintains that its abstention was consistent with these constitutional provisions.
By: Vanessa Edotom Boateng | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
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