“Foreign Ministry’s Statement Is Totally False” – Minority Fires Over LGBTQI UN Vote
Minority accuses Foreign Affairs Ministry of misleading the public over UN Human Rights Council vote, insisting the abstention supported global LGBTQI advocacy, not just protection from violence.
- Minority claims Ghana's abstention at UN vote supports promotion of LGBTQI rights, not just protection
- MP Samuel Jinapor says Foreign Ministry’s explanation of the vote is false and misleading
- Minority argues Ghana’s constitution does not endorse sexual orientation or gender identity rights
The Minority in Parliament has accused the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of deceiving the public over Ghana’s abstention from a controversial LGBTQI-related vote at the 59th Session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC59).
The Ministry had stated on July 9 that Ghana merely abstained from voting on the renewal of the mandate of the Independent Expert on Protection Against Violence and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (IE SOGI), and not on LGBTQI rights per se.
However, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, strongly refuted this claim on July 10, branding the Ministry’s explanation as “totally false.” According to Jinapor, the resolution was about extending a mandate that goes beyond protection to the active promotion of LGBTQI rights worldwide.
He pointed out that the vote sought to reauthorize the IE SOGI’s role, which includes challenging laws like Ghana’s anti-LGBTQI legislation. Citing the April 2025 report of the Independent Expert, Jinapor stressed that such UN mechanisms directly oppose Ghana’s values and legal stance.
He also questioned the Ministry’s attempt to justify the abstention using Ghana’s Constitution, arguing that no provision endorses sexual orientation or gender identity as protected rights, especially when balanced against public interest.
Jinapor warned that international interpretations of “discrimination” are being used to target domestic laws, including Ghana’s proposed “Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill.”
