We haven’t admitted LGBT activities in our new statutes as alleged — University of Ghana

The University of Ghana has dismissed claims that its newly revised statutes were designed to admit or recognise LGBTQ activities on campus, describing the allegation as false and misleading.

Private legal practitioner Moses Foh-Amoaning, speaking on Onua TV’s ‘Yɛn Nsempa’ programme, had alleged that the university’s recent amendments created space for LGBTQ recognition, a claim that was later published by some media outlets.

However, in a statement issued on Monday, November 24, the University said the allegation had no basis and misrepresented the purpose of the changes made to its statutes.

It explained that the review merely replaced gender-specific pronouns with gender-neutral ones to improve clarity and avoid repetitive language.

“The University wishes to state emphatically and without ambiguity that the allegations made by Mr. Foh-Amoaning are entirely false, misleading and defamatory,” the statement said in part.

It added that the institution operates strictly within Ghana’s legal framework and had not introduced any provision that “endorses, promotes, or ‘admits’ LGBT+ activities as alleged.”

According to the University, the shift to gender-neutral pronouns aligns with developments in modern English usage and mirrors language now common in academic, legal and even religious texts.

The statement also criticised attempts to personalise the issue by targeting the Vice-Chancellor, noting that no individual office-holder has the authority to amend University statutes on their own.

“The University strongly objects to Mr. Foh-Amoaning’s attempt to personalise an institutional governance matter by attacking the character and integrity of the Vice-Chancellor,” it said.

Management has demanded an immediate retraction of the comments and a public apology, failing which the University says it may resort to legal action to defend its reputation.