Martin Kpebu explains his absence from Ghana's anti-LGBTQ+ bill debate
via GhanaWeb2 min read
Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has clarified his limited involvement in the public debate surrounding Ghana's anti-LGBTQ+ bill. Kpebu, a human rights lawyer, stated that he has represented LGBTQ+ individuals in the past, emphasizing that they possess rights. However, he explained his current stance by noting that many prominent LGBTQ+ individuals, including successful lawyers he knows, choose to remain silent due to fear of stigma. Kpebu indicated that if those directly affected are unwilling to publicly advocate for themselves, he is reluctant to risk his own credibility. He suggested that if LGBTQ+ individuals were to come forward, it might evoke compassion from the Ghanaian public. The Parliament of Ghana passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, also known as the anti-gay bill, on Friday, May 29, 2026. This marks the second time the bill has been passed, and it now awaits the assent of President John Dramani Mahama to become law. The bill criminalizes same-sex sexual intercourse and marriage, and prohibits individuals from identifying as LGBTQ+ or related terms, with penalties including up to three years imprisonment.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
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