The Network for Women's Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT) has vehemently opposed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly referred to as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, urging President Akufo-Addo not to endorse it.

Expressing their dismay over the Parliament's passage of the Bill on February 28, 2024, NETRIGHT emphasized that the concerns initially raised about the Bill remained unaddressed. In a statement signed by Professor Akosua Darkwah, the Convener, NETRIGHT underscored the persistent lack of substantial modifications to the Bill's intent and provisions.

NETRIGHT cautioned that if enacted into law, the Bill would not only instil fear among LGBTQ+ individuals but also pose a significant threat to anyone deemed an ally or advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.

Highlighting the Bill's purported infringement of Article 17 of Ghana's Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law, NETRIGHT argued that its implementation would burden the public purse. Moreover, since the Bill's introduction in Parliament in 2021, there has been a surge in attacks against individuals merely suspected of being LGBTQ+ members, the statement asserted.

NETRIGHT contended that the Bill, far from offering protection to victims, would exacerbate an already hostile environment for LGBTQ+ individuals, underscoring the need to ensure that no Ghanaian lives in fear due to their sexual orientation.

Moreover, NETRIGHT criticized the Bill's failure to acknowledge the diverse family structures in Ghana, including extended families, and expressed disappointment with the media's and human rights activists' handling of the issue. They called for a reshaping of the national discourse surrounding LGBTQ+ rights.