When Kamala Harris stood up for LGBTQ+ lives… right in front of the president of Ghana

The following is an excerpt from Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey’s new book, “Kamala, the Motherland, and Me,” which recounts the author’s journey alongside the vice president on a historic, nine-day international trip to Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia in 2023 — providing an intimate portrait of her leadership and presence on the world stage. 

Arriving at the first joint press conference of the vice president’s trip to Africa, there was some anticipation about what would be discussed. Both Vice President [Kamala] Harris and President Akufo-Addo of Ghana would deliver their respective comments and answer questions from both the US and Ghanaian press. As we often do, the press corps had gotten together ahead of time to trade notes about potential questions to ask. The entire press corps was allowed only four questions in total, and we wanted to make sure that each of them would be useful to the corps at large; so, I knew that one of the questions would center on anti-LGBTQ+ legislation moving through the Ghanaian parliament.

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The vice president’s prepared remarks highlighted the Biden administration’s stated commitment to strengthening ties with African nations and advancing mutual interests. She emphasized the importance of partnership and collaboration on vital issues like climate change and economic inequality. Her words also reiterated the interconnectedness of global issues and the need for collective action between African nations and the US to address those challenges. She spoke about economic development and the significance of trade as a driver of opportunity in both countries and underscored efforts by the Biden administration to promote investment and the development of infrastructure in Africa, speaking specifically of the Build Back Better World (B3W) partnership, a global infrastructure initiative launched by President Biden and G7 partners. Vice President Harris’s remarks emphasized the importance of private sector engagement and entrepreneurship to foster prosperity for all.

Climate change and environmental sustainability were also on the agenda for both Vice President Harris and President Akufo-Addo. Highlighting Ghana’s strategic location, stable democracy, and growing economy, he made the argument for promoting investment and partnership. In addition to economic development and climate change, both Vice President Harris and President Akufo-Addo discussed the vital importance of protecting democratic principles and human rights across the continent of Africa, reaffirming each country’s respective commitment to supporting democratic institutions and respecting fundamental freedoms through fair elections, free media, and government accountability.

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Once the remarks were completed, President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Harris addressed inquiries from the Ghanaian press about investments and foreign policy. There were no surprises, and their answers essentially reiterated the commitments made during their prepared remarks. Next up, it was time for the American press corps to ask our questions. I felt an air of anticipation inside as The New York Times White House correspondent Zolan Kanno-Youngs walked to the microphone and prepared to ask a question that one or both of these world leaders would potentially shut down.

With a specific mention of a proposed Ghanaian bill that would imprison those engaging in same-sex intercourse, Zolan asked Vice President Harris about the trip’s theme of collaboration and how that reconciled the Biden administration’s commitment to calling out foreign governments that have advanced or proposed anti-gay legislation. Even before he completed his inquiry, members of the Ghanaian cabinet made their disapproval apparent. You could see their faces get tight and hear the whispers. You could even hear some laughter. Was it nervous laughter? Was it belittling laughter? Was it somewhere in between? I don’t know. But the immediate shift in energy was palpable.

Despite the angry stares and even some snickers from around the room, Vice President Harris never paused or hesitated in her response. Without missing a beat and standing tall with shoulders arched back, she said, “I’ll start. I have raised this issue, and let me be clear about where we stand. First of all, for the American press who are here, you know that a great deal of work in my career has been to address human rights issues, equality issues across the board, including as it relates to the LGBTQ+ community. And I feel very strongly about the importance of supporting freedom and supporting and fghting for equality among all people, and that all people be treated equally. I will also say that this is an issue that we consider, and I consider to be a human rights issue, and that will not change.”

President Akufo-Addo’s response looked vastly different from that of Vice President Harris’s. “First of all, we don’t have any such legislation here in Ghana,” he declared sternly. “A bill has been proposed through the Parliament of Ghana, which has all kinds of ramifications, which is now being considered by the Parliament. It hasn’t been passed. So, the statement that there is legislation in Ghana to that effect is not accurate. No legislation.”

In hindsight, I believe that they both anticipated the question. You can tell when people are knocked off-kilter by a question, and they clearly were not. The Ghanaian president’s response was essentially that the parliament will do what it wants to do, and let me school you on how this works here. It was his way of answering the question but not really answering the question.

In February 2024, the Ghanaian legislature passed the bill, paving the way for the imprisonment of anyone convicted of identifying as LGBTQ+ and a maximum five-year jail sentence for anyone forming or funding LGBTQ+ groups. Passing of the legislation sparked an immediate Supreme Court challenge, which President Akufo-Addo gave as the reason for not signing the bill into law. But there is no denying the economic impact that this law could have on the country, including the potential loss of almost $4 billion in World Bank funding by 2030.

It would’ve been easy for Vice President Harris to duck the question so as not to offend anyone in the room but at the expense of the freedom and dignity of a great many people outside the room. Ghana was the starting point, setting the tone for the entire trip ahead. By responding to the LGBTQ+ question honestly and basically doubling-down on her support of gay rights as human rights, she risked pulling focus from other aspects of the trip. What if folks on the continent decided to make this trip about her trying to persuade Africans into being more supportive of LGBTQ+ folks? She had some ambitious goals to achieve on the continent, particularly by not making the trip about humanitarian aid or public health but, instead, about entrepreneurship and investing more in the continent. Her objectives could have easily been derailed in that moment, but she took a stand anyway.

“Kamala, The Motherland, and Me” is available now through major online retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble and booksellers nationwide.

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