Ghana’s parliament on Friday approved a controversial new bill that criminalizes the so-called “promotion” of LGBTQ activities. The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill imposes prison sentences of up to 10 years for people who “promote, sponsor or advocate LGBTQ+ acts” and prohibits funding of related groups and activities.
The The invoice comes amid a broader crackdown on sexual minorities in West Africa, with religious groups in Ghana long lobbying for the legislation. While supporters of the bill say it protects the values and cultural norms of the Ghanaian family, criticism– including leading human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International– have condemned the bill and warned the government that the passage of the bill will have unavoidable consequences and deal a catastrophic blow to the country’s already fragile human rights landscape. Especially HRW urged The Ghanaian government should “uphold international legal protections that guarantee every Ghanaian equality, non-discrimination, freedom of expression and privacy.”
Friday’s law is the second iteration of a previous invoicepassed in 2024. While maintaining the core provisions of the previous bill, it also includes exemptions for legal professionals, media representatives and health professionals. For example, lawyers can continue to represent LGBTQ+ clients without being penalized, and medical professionals can provide care or psychological support without fear of reprisal. While Ghana’s parliament unanimously passed the law in 2024, former President Nana Akufo-Addo did not sign it. According to Ghana’s constitution, if the president does not sign the bill into law before the end of a legislative term, the law will automatically expire and must be re-passed by the new parliament.
Supporters say Friday’s bill is unlikely to face the same executive delay given the stance of current President John Dramani Mahama more conservative and more decisive stance on social legislation than his predecessor.
More than 30 of Africa’s 54 countries have laws criminalizing same-sex sexual acts and relationships. While some of these laws carry severe prison sentences of more than ten years, in countries such as Somalia and Mauritania the penalty is the death penalty. The International Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex People (ILGA) and its continental counterpart, Pan Africa ILGA, have in common called urged Mahama to reject the bill, warning that its severe restrictions tear apart the fabric of human rights and democracy supposedly enshrined in the country’s constitution.
