Musician and activist Deborah Vanessa, popularly known as Sister Derby, has labeled Ghana a failed state in response to the passing of the Promotion of Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly known as the anti-LGBTQ bill.
This legislation was officially approved by lawmakers on Wednesday, February 28, after successfully navigating through various consideration stages.

In her candid posts on the X app, Sister Derby criticized the sponsors of the bill, branding them as “black African colonial masters” exerting control.

She bluntly remarked, “Ridee we get black African colonial masters with huge bellies and asses pointing upwards like a string from the ceiling dey pull them in suit and tie with aboi drawn in hair like google map rerouting. This is the new Ghana. Back to colonialism through fascism.”

Ridee we get black African colonial masters with huge bellies and asses pointing upwards like a string from the ceiling dey pull them in suit and tie with aboi drawn in hair like google map rerouting. This is the new Ghana. Back to colonialism through fascism.

— Sister Deborah (@deborahvanessa7) February 29, 2024

Addressing the murder case of South African rapper AKA and the subsequent arrest of six suspects, Sister Derby drew a stark contrast to Ghana, lamenting the failure to solve notable murder cases.
She asserted, “In Ghana, no police has been able to arrest Fedec’s murderer or even suspects. Instead of emulating South Africa, we dey emulate Uganda. Ghana is a failed state especially w/ this new hate bill as the cherry on top.”

In Ghana, no police has been able to arrest Fedec’s murderer or even suspects. Instead of emulating South Africa, we dey emulate Uganda. Ghana is a failed state especially w/ this new hate bill as the cherry on top. https://t.co/yMhVduyFGv

— Sister Deborah (@deborahvanessa7) February 29, 2024

Sister Derby, a fervent activist against the bill, despite her tireless efforts through education across traditional and social media, as well as music, witnessed the bill’s passage.
The legislation criminalizes and prescribes penalties for LGBT activities, with individuals engaging in such activities facing a 6-month to 3-year jail term. Promoters and sponsors of the act could be sentenced to 3 to 5 years in prison.