Africa-Press – Ghana. Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has refuted reports suggesting that the country supported LGBTQI rights during a recent vote at the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC59).
It stressed that its abstention on the matter was misinterpreted and did not signal a shift in national policy.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry clarified that on July 7, 2025, Ghana abstained from voting on a resolution for the renewal of the mandate of the Independent Expert on Protection Against Violence and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI).
“There was no vote on the support of LGBTQI for which Ghana abstained, as has been wrongly reported by a section of the Ghanaian media,” the statement emphasized.
According to the Ministry, the resolution did not seek endorsement of LGBTQI rights but focused on whether persons who identify as LGBTQI should continue to be protected against violence and discrimination.
Ghana’s abstention, the Ministry noted, was in line with Chapter 5, Article 17 of the 1992 Constitution, which prohibited discrimination based on gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed, or social and economic status.
The Ministry also clarified that the resolution merely extended the mandate of the Independent Expert to continue reporting on the implementation of measures aimed at preventing violence and discrimination against persons on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
During the session, the Ministry said Ghana’s Permanent Representative to the UN delivered a statement reinforcing the country’s traditional stance on gender and sexuality.
“Our understanding of the traditional definition of gender is the male sex or female sex, especially when considered with reference to social and cultural differences,” Ambassador Harold Agyeman said during the session.
He added, “Similarly, sex in our view refers to either of the two main categories (male and female) into which humans and most other living things are divided and used for statistical purposes and policy monitoring.”
The Ministry, therefore, reiterated that the government remained aware of the Ghanaian public’s general opposition to LGBTQI issues and reaffirmed that it will not act in any way to undermine the country’s established position.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is very mindful of the Ghanaian public’s general opposition and the Government’s strong stance against the subject of LGBTQI rights,” the statement stressed.
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