Sam George, the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, has reacted to the brouhaha surrounding Ghana’s decision to abstain from the Human Rights Council’s vote.
According to Sam George, Ghana must always make its position unambiguous.
He emphasised that his position has not changed on the matter of LGBTQ+.
Sam George further revealed that he had read the full statement Ghana made on the floor concerning our position on draft resolution L.24, and he fully aligns with the letter; however, he could not understand the decision to abstain in the subsequent vote.
In a social media post on X, Sam George wrote, “My position on the matter of LGBTQ+ remains steadfast. I have read the full statement Ghana made on the floor in relation to our position on draft resolution L.24. I align fully with the letter and spirit of the text”.
“I cannot however in good conscience understand the decision to abstain in the subsequent vote. That vote is in conflict with Ghana’s espoused position and my conscience. We MUST at all times make our position clear and unambiguous”.
He added, “Like I indicated earlier, together with my Colleagues in Parliament, we have resubmitted the same Bill that was passed last year by Parliament which @NAkufoAddo refused to sign. I urge Parliament to expedite the approval process so we present the Bill to President @JDMahama.
The innocence of Ghanaian children and the sanctity of our values cannot be traded for any considerations. Let truth and our conscience and principles be our guiding light”.
However, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, has boldly stated that the John Mahama government has not changed its position on LGBTQI+.
He asserted that there was no vote on LGBTQI+ support for which Ghana abstained.
According to Ablakwa, the media reports suggesting that Ghana had compromised its stance by abstaining from a crucial vote on a homosexuality motion tabled at the United Nations are misleading and mischievous reports.
Ablakwa revealed that Ghana decided to abstain from a general vote about protecting human rights, particularly of women, violence against women and persons of various sexual orientations.
Speaking at a brief commissioning ceremony for Ghana’s new representative to UNESCO, Ablakwa stated, “The motion before the international organisation had nothing to do with a human rights question. Instead, it was a question of extending the tenure of some experts on the Human Rights Council.”
“The ministry wishes to state for the records that there was no vote on support for LGBTQ+ for which Ghana abstained. So let’s get it clear, there was no vote on support for LGBTQ+ for which Ghana abstained,” he said.
He explained, “Our ambassador in Geneva has clarified, he has sent a full report and has clarified that the vote was about independent experts’ mandate on violence against women, against people of various sexual orientations,” he noted.
“That is what the vote was about. A general vote about protecting human rights, particularly of women, violence against women and persons of various sexual orientations. And Ghana decided to abstain, consistent with our human rights credentials. Why will you want to endorse violence against women in particular?”
In a post on X, Ablakwa added, “The Mahama Administration has not changed its position on LGBTQI+.
This official statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarifies Ghana’s vote at the UN Human Rights Council yesterday.
Ignore the misleading and mischievous reports by sections of the media.
See the post below:
My position on the matter of LGBTQ+ remains steadfast. I have read the full statement Ghana made on the floor in relation to our position on draft resolution L.24. I align fully with the letter and spirit of the text.
I cannot however in good conscience understand the decision… pic.twitter.com/E1kd6P6N2l
— Sam ‘Dzata’ George 🦁🇬🇭 (@samgeorgegh) July 10, 2025
