Ghana’s parliament has passed a controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill that criminalises homosexuality and the promotion of LGBTQ+ activities, marking one of the country’s toughest moves against sexual minorities.
The legislation, which still requires the assent of President John Dramani Mahama to become law, prescribes prison sentences of up to three years for individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer.
The bill also introduces a legal obligation for citizens to report prohibited LGBTQ+ activities to law enforcement authorities.
Supporters of the legislation say it is designed to protect Ghanaian cultural and family values, while rights groups have condemned it as discriminatory and dangerous.
Addressing parliament, the bill’s sponsor, John Ntim Fordjour, said the legislation would strengthen existing laws against same-sex relationships.
He said the new provisions would make current laws “more robust, more encompassing, and more stringent in dealing with the practices of LGBTQI.”
The legislation extends beyond same-sex relationships, with supporters of LGBTQ+ people also facing potential criminal penalties. However, exemptions are included for journalists, lawyers, healthcare workers and other professionals who engage with LGBTQ+ issues in the course of their duties.
The bill has drawn strong criticism from international human rights organisations. Human Rights Watch warned that the legislation could place LGBTQ+ people at greater risk and encourage citizens to monitor and report one another.
Same-sex relationships are already illegal in Ghana under colonial-era laws inherited from British rule.
The latest vote follows the failure of a similar bill in 2024, which was passed by parliament but never became law after then-President Nana Akufo-Addo declined to sign it amid legal challenges.
President Mahama has previously expressed support for legislation restricting LGBTQ+ rights. Shortly after taking office, he stated that he believed “only two genders exist man and woman” and that marriage should be limited to a man and a woman.
The development places Ghana among several African countries that have recently tightened restrictions on LGBTQ+ rights. In March, Senegal approved legislation imposing prison terms of up to 10 years for same-sex acts and criminalising the promotion of homosexuality, while Uganda introduced a death penalty for certain same-sex acts in 2023.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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