Parliament has once again passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, reviving one of the most controversial pieces of legislation in Ghana’s recent history.
The latest version, passed on May 29, 2026, comes after an earlier version approved by Parliament in February 2024 failed to become law before the dissolution of Parliament ahead of the general elections.
The previous bill was never assented to by former President Nana Akufo-Addo due to pending legal challenges and concerns about its implications.
The 2025 Bill retains most of the provisions that made the original legislation highly contentious. However, Parliament introduced several amendments that supporters say clarify the law, while critics argue they have weakened it.
What Remains
At its core, the new Bill maintains the same objective as the earlier version — to prohibit LGBTQ+ activities and promote what it describes as Ghanaian family values.
Both versions:
- Criminalise same-sex sexual relations.
- Ban the promotion, sponsorship, and funding of LGBTQ+ activities.
- Prohibit the formation and operation of LGBTQ+ organisations.
- Restrict adoption and fostering by persons identified under LGBTQ+ categories.
- Void certain marriages involving same-sex couples or persons who have undergone gender reassignment procedures.
- Require citizens to report offences under the law.
In practical terms, the central framework of the legislation remains unchanged.
What Has Changed?
Broader Scope
The new Bill expands the categories of persons who could fall under the law.
Beyond individuals identifying as LGBTQ+, the legislation now places greater focus on people involved in advocacy, promotion, sponsorship, support, and funding of activities prohibited under the Bill.
Stronger Focus on Advocacy
One of the major changes involves Clause 9, which now expressly targets propaganda, advocacy, and promotion of LGBTQ+ activities.
Supporters argue this closes loopholes that could allow indirect promotion of prohibited activities.
Expanded Role for Institutions
The Bill now places greater responsibility on institutions to promote family values.
Parents, schools, teachers, religious bodies, traditional authorities, state institutions and even the media and creative arts industry are expected to help preserve and promote those values through education and public engagement.
More Detailed Definitions
The 2025 version also expands the interpretation section, providing more detailed definitions of terms such as ally, non-binary, queer, pansexual, intersex, and family values.
The Biggest Change: New Exemptions
The most significant amendment is the introduction of exemptions for certain professional and public-interest activities.
Under the revised Bill, the law would not apply to:
- Lawyers providing legal advice or representation.
- Journalists and media houses reporting on LGBTQ+ issues in the ordinary course of their work.
- Doctors, psychologists, and counsellors providing professional services.
- Researchers, academics, and scientists expressing professional opinions.
- Public health programmes, including HIV and AIDS prevention, testing and treatment.
- Proceedings in courts, Parliament and commissions of inquiry.
The exemptions were introduced after concerns from lawyers, media practitioners, health professionals and civil society groups that the earlier version could criminalise legitimate professional work.
Why Are The Exemptions Controversial?
The exemptions have triggered disagreement among some of the Bill’s own sponsors and supporters.
Assin South MP and lead sponsor Rev. John Ntim Fordjour has argued that the amendments significantly weaken the legislation.
According to him, exempting lawyers, journalists, and health professionals removes the “bite” from the law and undermines efforts to curb what supporters consider the promotion of homosexuality.
The Minority Caucus also opposed aspects of the amendments, arguing that they suggest the earlier version of the Bill was flawed.
However, supporters of the amendments insist they are necessary safeguards to ensure that professional services, freedom of expression and public health work are not wrongly criminalised.
Another Important Legal Change
Parliament also amended provisions relating to marriages covered by the Bill.
The wording was changed from describing such marriages as “unenforceable” to “not recognised”.
Legal analysts say this could have broader legal implications because it directly denies recognition of such unions rather than merely preventing their enforcement.
What Happens Next?
The Bill now awaits presidential assent before it can become law.
Its passage is likely to reignite debate both within Ghana and internationally, as supporters maintain it protects Ghanaian cultural and family values, while critics argue it raises concerns about constitutional rights, freedom of expression and access to healthcare.
For now, the biggest difference between the old and new versions is not the criminalisation framework itself, which remains largely intact, but the introduction of exemptions aimed at protecting journalists, lawyers, health workers and public-interest services from prosecution under the law.
