ACCRA, Ghana – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a press release clarifying Ghana’s vote at the 59th Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC59) on the 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).
The Ministry stated that contrary to some media reports, Ghana’s abstention on Monday, July 7, 2025, was not a vote on supporting LGBTQI+ individuals directly but rather on the renewal of the Independent Expert’s mandate concerning protection against violence and discrimination.
The Ministry emphasized that the question before the Council was whether individuals who identify as LGBTQI+ should be protected against violence and discrimination, not about supporting LGBTQI+ “rights” as such. Ghana’s abstention, according to the Ministry, was in line with Chapter 5, Article 17 of the 1992 Constitution, which explicitly prohibits discrimination based on grounds such as gender, race, color, ethnic origin, religion, creed, or social and economic status.
The resolution mandates the Independent Expert to continue providing annual reports to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly on the implementation of their mandate. The Permanent Representative of Ghana further clarified Ghana’s position during the session, stating that their understanding of “gender” refers to male or female sex, particularly in social and cultural contexts, and “sex” refers to the two main categories (male and female) used for statistical purposes and policy monitoring.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its awareness of the Ghanaian public’s general opposition and the government’s strong stance against the subject of LGBTQI+ rights, assuring that it will not act in any way to undermine this position. The vote on the renewal of the SOGI Independent Expert mandate passed with 29 votes in favor, 15 against, and 3 abstentions globally.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
