Patrick Boamah has openly criticized Ghana’s decision to abstain from a key vote at the United Nations Human Rights Council, calling it a missed opportunity to affirm the country’s cultural and constitutional stance on LGBTQ+ matters.
The Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central said he was “surprised” to learn that Ghana abstained from the July 7 vote on the renewal of the mandate of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity while speaking to journalists on Wednesday, July 9, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) legislator.
“We were promised by the government of the day that they were not going to support that activity.
“So, we expected that Ghana should have taken a firm position on that. I was a bit surprised to see that Ghana abstained,” Boamah stated.
The vote, which took place during the Council’s 59th session, ended with 29 countries voting in favour, 15 against, and only three — including Ghana — choosing to abstain.
Boamah emphasized that this was not merely a foreign policy issue but a reflection of the nation’s core values and legal framework.
“I intend to file a question to understand the basis of the abstention.
“This is not a foreign policy matter; this is a cultural issue, a value issue, a constitutional issue — things that are alien to our culture and wellbeing,” he stressed.
“It was a clear opportunity for the government to demonstrate its position on this matter.”
