ACCRA — Comments by Theresa Mamle Gbekie, a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communication Team, have triggered widespread concern after she urged families to report LGBTQ+ relatives to the police – remarks that human rights defenders say reflect the controversial “duty to report” provision in the proposed Anti-LGBTQ Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025.
Speaking in an interview on Starr FM on April 8, 2026, Gbekie relied heavily on religious justification while encouraging families to take action against suspected LGBTQ+ persons.
“We all came to meet the Bible…. whether you are a pagan or you are whatever you know the Bible exists. A lot of them know the Bible more than you, and I do. We all know that this thing is forbidden in the Bible. Let’s help ourselves.”
She questioned how authorities would identify LGBTQ+ gatherings without public cooperation:
“Yes, there will be a bill. If there is a bill, how would you and I know that whatever party that is being held at Chorkor – wherever it is – is a gathering of gays or lesbians? Unless we help ourselves.”
Gbekie then explicitly called on families to report relatives to law enforcement:
“So, I’m coming from that perspective. Can we, the family of such people who are into it or are yet been introduced, help our own people. Or, if talking to them is a problem, maybe they might not listen to you. Since it is not something which is legalised in Ghana here, you can report to the police for them to be arrested.”
She further added:
“If you have a family member who is a lesbian or a gay, will you be happy? Who is introduced to this? Would you be happy? So, we can help ourselves by reporting them to the rightful authorities – seeing them organise a party or something because we can help ourselves, we can start helping now by doing something, by pushing it.”
And reiterated:
“Let’s help ourselves by reporting them to the police or whoever will do the arrest…”
Concerns Over “Duty to Report”
Human rights defenders warn that these statements reflect one of the most extreme aspects of the bill—the mandatory “duty to report” clause, which requires individuals to inform authorities about suspected offences.
Critics argue this could:
- Break down family trust and relationships
- Encourage surveillance and suspicion within communities
- Lead to false reporting and abuse
- Undermine constitutional rights and legal safeguards
Public Pushback
Ghanaian transgender musician and activist Angel Maxine has responded strongly, cautioning Ghanaians against reporting their own relatives.
She criticised the position as hypocritical, arguing that those urging people to report LGBTQ+ family members are unlikely to report their own relatives for serious crimes such as murder. She urged the public to resist such calls and instead protect their loved ones.
Growing National Debate
The comments have intensified national discussions around the Anti-LGBTQ bill, particularly its potential to extend beyond legal enforcement into private family life and social relations.
Observers warn that rhetoric encouraging people to report relatives risks normalising discrimination, increasing fear, and deepening social divisions, as Ghana continues to debate the bill’s far-reaching implications.
Rightify Ghana 