Ghana Abstains from UN Vote: Upholding Constitutional Values Amidst Global Debate on LBTQ++ Rights
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a clarification regarding Ghana’s abstention from a recent United Nations vote on the renewal of the mandate of the Independent Expert on Protection Against Violence and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI). Ghana abstained from the vote at the 59th Session of the UN Human Rights Council on July 7, 2025. The resolution aimed to extend the mandate of the Independent Expert to continue reporting on measures to combat violence and discrimination worldwide. According to the Ministry, Ghana’s abstention was not about supporting LBTQ++ rights, but rather about protecting individuals from violence and discrimination while upholding the country’s constitutional provisions. Ghana’s decision to abstain is consistent with its constitutional provisions, specifically Chapter 5, Article 17 of the 1992 Constitution, which prohibits discrimination based on various grounds. Ghana’s Permanent Representative reaffirmed the country’s traditional perspective on gender, describing it as strictly binary — male and female — in accordance with Ghana’s social, cultural, and policy frameworks. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reassured citizens that Ghana remains committed to upholding its cultural and constitutional values. The government has maintained a strong stance against LBTQ++ rights and will not act in any manner to undermine this position.
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