Ghana MP Blames Homosexuality for South Africa’s High Crime Rate

Sam George, one of the architects of the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill in Ghana, accuses the West of “cultural imperialism” in its efforts to promote LGBTIQ+ human rights (Image: News Central TV)

Sam George, the main sponsor of Ghana’s Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, is being ridiculed for claiming that South Africa suffers from a high crime rate because the country “embraced homosexuality.”

A video clip of the opposition MP making the absurd statement in a recent television interview with Nigeria’s News Central TV has been widely circulated online.

“Just look even on the African continent. Which country has the highest crime rate? South Africa. Why? Because they’ve embraced homosexuality,” he asserts confidently in the video.

“It’s one of the growing factors in that country. Look at every country that has embraced this and look at what has happened to their crime rate. This has a ripple effect on society as a whole,” George continues.

He adds: “We’re not going to enforce the sickness and the troubles of another country. We’ve got enough now on our hands in Ghana.”

George was one of several lawmakers to introduce the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, in Ghana’s Parliament.

He has been a vocal champion of the appalling legislation, which was overwhelmingly passed by MPs on 28 February 2024.

A Claim With No Basis in Facts or Logic

Many on social media mocked George for his claim, which has no basis in fact or logic, pointing out that many of the most LGBTQ+ affirming countries are among the safest. Just a few examples include Iceland, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, Portugal, and Switzerland, which, according to the Global Peace Index, were among the ten safest nations in the world in 2023.

“I’ve heard so many justifications for enacting draconian laws to criminalise and imprison LGBT persons in some African countries. But this guy is just delusional: making a direct link to high crime rates in SA to laws protecting fundamental human rights of LGBTI persons,” commented @IsaackWendy on X.

“This is a defamatory statement not only to South Africa as a state but also to the LGBTQ community, whose only difference is their sexual orientation or gender identity, and which does not pose any harm or whatsoever to anyone including the bigoted MP, Sam George,” wrote Activism Ghana.

@GosiameMalepe remarked: “Another reason why we as gay folk don’t take some ‘straight’ people seriously is because a lot of them think like this or maybe it’s a lack of having the capacity to think beyond their bigotry? And I have met so many people with this same level of thinking and reasoning.”

Ghana’s Economy Set to Suffer if Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill Becomes Law

If signed into law by President Nana Akufo-Addo, the bill will jail people for up to three years simply for identifying as lesbian, gay, transgender, transsexual, queer, pansexual, an ally or non-binary.

It also further outlaws “related activities”, including same-sex intimacy, same-sex marriage, cross-dressing and even the use of sex toys. Anyone found guilty of the promotion and advocacy of LGBTQ+ “activities” in any medium faces up to 10 years in prison, as do landlords who rent their premises to an LGBTQ+ person.

Meanwhile, Ghana’s Ministry of Finance has warned the government that it faces an economic backlash if the law is enacted.

According to a report issued by the ministry this month, Ghana stands to lose $3.8 billion in World Bank financing as well as a $3 billion International Monetary Fund loan package.

Sam George, the main sponsor of Ghana’s recently passed anti-LGBTQ Bill, has alleged that South Africa has the highest crime rate in Africa due to embracing homosexuality.

This bigoted statement lacks any basis in fact or evidence, echoing his other hateful arguments against… pic.twitter.com/jNxK9ba8rn

— Rightify Ghana (@RightifyGhana) March 3, 2024