Ghana’s Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill ‘Criminalises Empathy’, says musician and LGBTQ+ ally Wanlov the Kubolor
– 2 min read
Interview carried out by Enrique Anarte, correspondent at Context News, the media platform of the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Original story here
Proposed legislation in Ghana that seeks to restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals undermines the rights of all citizens, according to Ghanaian-Romanian musician and LGBTQ+ ally Wanlov the Kubolor.
The bill, reintroduced to Parliament in February after the previous president left office without signing it, would strengthen colonial-era laws criminalising same-sex relationships. It proposes prison sentences for identifying as LGBTQ+, expressing public support, or funding related organisations. Citizens would also be required to report suspected violations to the police.
“This is a bill that criminalises empathy and humanity,” said Wanlov. “If you’re a parent of a queer person and don’t report them, you could face at least 10 years in prison. Landlords, employers, anyone who doesn’t report suspected queer individuals could be criminalised. It’s a bill against every single person in Ghana.”
He warned that the legislation could worsen corruption: “If this bill passes, the police will have carte blanche to stop anyone and accuse them of a crime. It will make extortion even easier.”
Wanlov criticised the political motivations behind the bill: “Politicians use this as a distraction whenever there’s a scandal. There’s no need for legislation targeting queer existence. What we need are hospitals, working health insurance, street lights, good roads, and better transport.”
He also rejected claims that LGBTQ+ rights are a Western import: “It takes minutes to find examples of pre-colonial queer existence across Africa. Colonialism brought binary thinking and religious imposition. This bill was written in Texas. The homophobia is imported - not the queerness.”
“Being queer is African. It’s human.”
Interview carried out by Enrique Anarte, correspondent at Context News, the media platform of the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Original story here
