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Ghana's parliament has approved a bill that imposes prison sentences for same-sex relations and for promoting or supporting LGBTQ+ activities, a measure that has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups and international organisations while being welcomed by religious and conservative supporters. The bill, formally known as the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, now awaits ratification by President John Dramani Mahama before it can become law.

The legislation, passed on Friday, revives a similar bill that parliament had approved unanimously in 2024 but which former president Nana Akufo-Addo did not sign. Under Ghana's constitution, draft legislation not signed by the president before the end of a parliamentary term automatically lapses and must be passed again by the new parliament.

Coverage comparison

Reports from multiple outlets describe the bill as one of the most restrictive or repressive anti-LGBTQ laws in Africa. Africa News, AllAfrica, France 24, and RFI all framed the legislation as 'restrictive' or 'repressive,' while The Guardian highlighted the fear among Ghana's LGBTQ community. BBC and Jerusalem Post focused on the criminalisation of homosexuality and the 'duty to report' provisions.

All reports note that the bill includes exemptions for legal, media, and healthcare professionals. Deutsche Welle and The Guardian indicated prison terms of up to 10 years for promoting LGBTQ+ activities, while several other outlets, including AllAfrica and France 24, specified penalties of between three and five years for such promotion, in addition to the three-year maximum for engaging in same-sex relations.

The bill's passage comes amid a broader context in which same-sex relationships were already prohibited under a colonial-era law, though prosecutions under that law have been rare.

Key claims

  • Ghana's parliament approved the bill on Friday, with reports describing it as one of the most restrictive anti-LGBTQ laws in Africa.
  • The bill imposes up to three years' imprisonment for engaging in same-sex relations and for identifying as LGBTQ+.
  • Penalties for promoting, sponsoring, or advocating LGBTQ+ activities range from three to five years, with some reports citing up to 10 years.
  • The bill includes a 'duty to report' suspected LGBTQ+ individuals to police.
  • Exemptions are included for legal, media, and healthcare professionals.
  • The bill awaits ratification by President John Mahama, who has indicated support, saying he believes 'only two genders exist – man and woman' and that marriage is between a man and a woman.
  • Human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have condemned the bill, with some recommending it be abandoned.

Perspectives

Supporters of the bill: They argue it protects Ghanaian family values and cultural norms. The bill's sponsor, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, said the bans would make existing laws 'more robust, more encompassing, and more stringent in dealing with the practices of LGBTQI.'

Critics of the bill: Human rights advocates and international organisations, including Human Rights Watch, argue the bill violates constitutional rights, threatens fundamental freedoms, and could lead to discrimination and abuse. Community organisations report that LGBTQ+ people fear losing their homes, jobs, or access to healthcare and are already deleting online content to protect their identities.