The Centre for Democratic Movement (CDM) has criticised government, accusing it of moral abdication after the country abstained from a crucial United Nations vote on LGBTQ+ issues.

The vote in question concerned the renewal of the mandate of the UN Independent Expert on Protection Against Violence and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity during the 59th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

“At a moment when the global stage demanded clarity and conviction, Ghana chose silence,” the CDM declared. According to the statement, this abstention “is not a matter of neutrality; it is a moral, cultural, and constitutional betrayal.”

The group said the move represented “a calculated evasion of leadership at a time when the nation expected bold defence of our collective values, sovereignty, and legal traditions.” CDM called it “a moment of shame for a country that once proudly declared its commitment to cultural integrity and family values.”

Challenging the government’s justification for the abstention, CDM argued that the vote was not about protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from violence.

“Rather, it was about extending the mandate of an office that has consistently promoted controversial reforms.”

These reforms, according to the statement, include “legalising same-sex marriage,” “recognising self-determined gender identity,” and “criminalising national laws, including Ghana’s own, that define family and sexuality based on cultural norms.”

CDM said the Ministry’s framing of the issue as one of non-discrimination was “intellectually dishonest.” It insisted, “Protection from violence is not the same as institutionalising practices alien to Ghanaian values.”

The CDM said the abstention was not a one-off but part of a disturbing pattern.

“The current administration has abstained from key votes on LGBTQ+ issues on multiple occasions, even while publicly claiming to champion the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill.”

The group said this revealed the government’s “duplicity,” describing it as “bold in speeches at home, but silent when it matters most on the international stage.”

In contrast, the group praised other African nations that voted “NO” to the mandate renewal.

“Several African nations, including Nigeria, Algeria, Burundi, DRC, Ethiopia, Gambia, Malawi, Morocco, Sudan, and the Maldives dared to vote ‘NO,’ defending their sovereign right to shape moral policy consistent with their cultural identities.”

CDM said Ghana’s abstention “sent the wrong signal; not just to our allies on the continent, but to Ghanaians who expect our government to stand firm, not flinch.”

The group linked this vote to a historical pattern dating back to 2016, when Ghana first abstained under the leadership of President John Mahama.

CDM said, “This repetition of silence; first in 2016, then again in 2025 under the same leadership; reveals not balance but avoidance.”

The group added, “These gaps in participation do not excuse the failure to act; they only highlight a persistent reluctance to take a principled stand.”

CDM argued that the abstention was a missed opportunity to defend Ghana’s cultural sovereignty. “Ghana chose neither solidarity with its continental peers nor an assertive articulation of its own legal position.”

The group said Ghana instead “stood on the sidelines, offering vague constitutional justifications while dodging the real issue: whether the nation will defend its cultural sovereignty or allow international institutions to define its moral trajectory.”

The group insisted that Ghana’s stance on family values is clear.

“From the Akan to the Ga-Dangme, from the Mole-Dagbani to the Ewe, Ghanaian societies have clear positions on the sanctity of family and the meaning of marriage.”

CDM cited the Criminal Offences Act and the Constitution as reflecting these values, adding that “to ignore this overwhelming consensus is to undermine the legitimacy of our democracy.”

While affirming its opposition to violence and discrimination, CDM said it “draws a firm line between upholding human dignity and surrendering our cultural sovereignty.”

It issued four demands, including “a full and transparent explanation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” “immediate prioritisation and passage of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill,” “firm accountability from Parliament, especially the NDC Majority,” and “renewed activism by traditional authorities, religious leaders, and civil society.”

CDM concluded with a call for national clarity and courage.

“To abstain in moments of moral clarity is to abandon the soul of a nation. Ghana must never allow her voice to be muffled at the very tables where her future is being negotiated. Our sovereignty is not for sale, and our silence must never be mistaken for consent.”