Oral, Anal Sex Is Illegal In Ghana-Ursula Owusu-Ekuful

Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has disclosed that oral and anal sex is proscribed by the laws of Ghana and urged women who are coerced by their husbands into engaging in the act to report to the police for assistance.

The Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West said these in a contribution to a debate on the promotion of proper sexual human rights and the Ghanaian family values bill,2023 during its second reading in Parliament.

She reiterated the fact that anal or oral sex is illegal regardless of which gender is involved stating that some wives have faced threats of divorce from their husbands for refusing to participate in such sexual acts.

“For the avoidance of doubt and the information of all Ghanaians, oral sex, anal sex regardless of whether it is between woman and man, man and man or woman and woman is illegal under our law and so if there is anybody who is practising oral sex or anal sex please note that what you are doing is against the existing law of this country.

“And so I will urge any woman or young girl being subjected to any such practice under the guise of heterosexual sex to know that what they are being asked to do is against and law and must seek help from the Police. Anal sex is unnatural carnal knowledge, use of sex toys is unnatural carnal knowledge.”

This she noted is a critical component of the proposed bill to help address the challenge.

Lawmakers debated the objects of the Bill following the presentation of a report by Constitutional Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament by its chairman Kwame Anyimedu-Antwi on the bill after holding nine public hearings and other international familiaration visits to other countries to study similar laws.

The report of the committee highlighted some concerns regarding potential breaches of international treaties such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civic and Political Rights, and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, among others.

Ranking Member on the committee, Bernard Ahiafor however refuted the claims and stated that no single provision in the bill is opposed to any of the international conventions and treaties Ghana has signes unto.

The Akatsi South Member stated that passing the bill is consistent with the constitution of the country

“The bill under reference if passed into law will not violate article 108 of the 1992 constitution of Ghana,” Mr Ahiafor said, adding if this bill is passed into law there is no provision in any international treaty or convention that will be violated.”Mr Ahiafor stated.