Ghana Approves Stricter Law Targeting LGBTQ Activities
The measure, officially known as the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill and commonly referred to as the Anti-Gay Bill, was approved on Friday. Under its provisions, individuals found engaging in same-sex relations could face up to three years in prison. The legislation also establishes penalties ranging from three to five years for anyone deemed to be promoting, sponsoring, financing, or intentionally supporting LGBTQ activities or organizations.
The bill is now expected to be sent to President John Dramani Mahama for final approval and enactment.
This is not the first time lawmakers have endorsed the legislation. Parliament initially approved the bill in February 2024 and submitted it to then-President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for consideration. However, despite receiving parliamentary backing, the proposal did not ultimately become law at that time.
During the earlier debate over the legislation, Ghana’s Finance Ministry warned that signing the bill into law could carry significant economic consequences. Officials cautioned that the country risked losing as much as $3.8 billion in funding from the World Bank if the measure were enacted.
The legislation has also generated criticism from international partners and human rights advocates. In 2024, the United States said it was “deeply troubled” by the bill, arguing that it “would threaten all Ghanaians’ constitutionally protected freedoms of speech, press, and assembly.”
Ghana’s action reflects a broader trend seen in several African countries in recent years. In April, Senegal adopted legislation that strengthened penalties related to same-sex relations and prohibited the promotion or financing of homosexuality. The law was criticized by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, who described it as “harmful.”
The Senegalese legislation increased prison terms for what authorities classify as “unnatural acts” from a previous range of one to five years to a new range of five to ten years. It also significantly raised the maximum financial penalties, setting them at up to 10 million CFA francs, equivalent to roughly $17,680.
Uganda enacted comparable legislation in 2023, making it illegal for individuals to identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer. Following the law’s adoption, the United States responded by imposing travel restrictions on certain Ugandan officials and removing the country from a preferential trade program.
According to reports, Ghana’s newly approved legislation is expected to remain a subject of domestic and international debate as it moves toward becoming law.
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