Patrick Boamah Questions Ghana’s Abstention on UN LGBTQ+ Vote
Patrick Boamah urges the government to clarify why Ghana abstained from the UN vote on LGBTQ+ rights.
- Ghana abstained from a UN Human Rights Council vote on renewing protections against violence
- MP Patrick Boamah criticized the government for not taking a clear stance
- The issue intensifies ongoing national debates
Patrick Boamah, the Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, has voiced his surprise over Ghana’s choice to abstain from a recent United Nations Human Rights Council vote regarding the renewal of the mandate for the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The vote took place on Monday, July 7, 2025, during the Council’s 59th session, where 29 countries supported the mandate, 15 opposed it, and Ghana was among three nations that chose to abstain.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, July 9, Boamah—who also serves on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee—argued that the current Mahama administration should have taken a firm stand against LGBTQ+ issues by voting against the resolution.
“We were assured by the government that it would not support such activities. Therefore, we expected Ghana to take a decisive position. I was surprised by the abstention and will be asking the Minister of Foreign Affairs and government representatives for an explanation,” he said.
Boamah added, “This is not just a foreign policy issue; it touches on our culture, values, and constitutional principles. It was a clear chance for the government to make its stance known.”
This development has reignited intense discussions on LGBTQ+ rights in Ghana, especially as Parliament prepares to vote on a contentious bill aimed at criminalizing LGBTQ+ advocacy and related activities.
Earlier, on February 28, 2024, Ghana’s Parliament unanimously passed a highly controversial anti-homosexuality bill, which has faced widespread international criticism.
On May 28, 2025, the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, announced that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill—often referred to as the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill—will have its first reading during the upcoming session of the Ninth Parliament.
The bill seeks to outlaw LGBTQ+ activities in Ghana, including the promotion, advocacy, or funding of such causes.
