As Ghanaians celebrate John Dramani Mahama’s 2024 election victory, fashion critic and influencer Charlie Dior has urged the country to prioritize pressing economic issues over the LGBTQ debate. Speaking in an interview with Neat FM, Dior expressed strong opposition to the anti-LGBTQ bill awaiting presidential approval, describing it as irrelevant to the nation’s most urgent needs.
“The anti-LGBTQ bill should be shredded. Why? Because it’s not important to Ghanaians right now,” Dior argued. “People didn’t vote for Mahama because of LGBTQ issues; they voted to fix the economy. LGBTQ rights don’t affect the price of kenkey, electricity bills, or employment.”
Dior highlighted Ghana’s critical infrastructure and social challenges, emphasizing that the country’s priorities should lie in improving roads, hospitals, and schools rather than targeting individuals based on their sexuality. “If LGBTQ rights are one of the top 10 things on your list to fix for Ghanaians, then you’ve missed the point,” he said.
The controversial anti-LGBTQ bill, introduced by Parliament members three years ago and spearheaded by Ningo-Prampram MP Sam George, was passed by Parliament in February 2024 but remains under Supreme Court review. The bill proposes severe penalties, including three years’ imprisonment for same-sex intercourse and up to ten years for promoting LGBTQ activities.
Critics, including Dior, argue that the bill infringes on fundamental human rights and fosters discrimination. While proponents view it as a defense of traditional Ghanaian values, Dior insists the country’s focus should shift to resolving economic and social challenges that directly affect citizens’ lives.