Lawyers, journalists rightly exempted from Anti-LGBTQ Bill, says expert

Mr. Kwesi Jonah, a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), has voiced support for the exemptions granted to lawyers, journalists, and health professionals within Ghana's recently passed Human Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly known as the Anti-LGBTQ Bill. Parliament passed the amended bill on Friday, which notably removes sanctions for individuals providing legal advice or representation to LGBTQ persons, as well as for media reporting on related issues and professionals offering medical or psychological services.

During the bill's consideration stage, the Minority in Parliament had opposed these exemptions, arguing they indicated the bill was not fit for purpose. However, Mr. Jonah countered these concerns, telling The Ghanaian Times that the exemptions are crucial to avoid inadvertently criminalizing the work of these professionals. He explained that these provisions align with the views of various stakeholders consulted by legislators prior to the bill's reintroduction.

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It is unfortunate that those exemptions did not come up the first time the bill was introduced and passed.

Jonah acknowledged the bill's broad public support in Ghana, where many citizens view LGBTQ activities as contrary to cultural values. Nevertheless, he stressed the importance of government engagement with international development partners following the bill's passage. He advised the government to clearly articulate the rationale behind the legislation to its partners, ensuring the bill is perceived as balanced rather than purely punitive, thereby mitigating potential diplomatic friction.

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It is important for the government to consider its development partners following the passage of the bill and to explain the rationale behind its passage to them. The government must ensure that the bill is balanced and not punitive in order not to attract the anger of our partners.