Gay practices have been outlawed in Ghana following the passage of the bill on human sexual rights and family values, commonly known as the anti-LGBTQ bill.
Dubbed the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, it was approved on Wednesday, February 28, 2204, spearheaded by Sam Nartey George, the MP for Ningo-Prampram. The legislation explicitly prohibits LGBTQ activities and criminalizes their promotion, advocacy, or funding.
According to local media, individuals caught engaging in such activities may face jail terms ranging from six months to three years, while supporters or promoters could be sentenced to three to five years in prison.
This development follows years of parliamentary deliberations, amidst opposition attempts to block or modify the bill. Currently, Ghanaian law prohibits homosexuality, carrying a maximum prison sentence of three years, which will now be extended to five years under the new legislation.
Additionally, the distribution of materials advocating LGBTQ rights will be criminalized. The bill’s inception was prompted by the establishment of Ghana’s first LGBTQ+ community center in Accra in January 2021, which was subsequently shut down by police amid public outcry and pressure from religious and traditional leaders.
The approved bill represents a diluted version of its original draft, with shortened jail terms and the removal of a contentious clause on conversion therapy. During debates, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the deputy parliamentary leader of the governing party, proposed further modifications.
However, the bill’s enactment hinges on the President’s approval, raising uncertainty as to whether President Akufo-Addo will endorse it. This legislation aligns with a trend of anti-gay laws sweeping across Africa, with countries like Tanzania, Niger, Namibia, and Uganda implementing stricter measures, including the death penalty for homosexuality.
According to Amnesty International, thirty-one African countries currently criminalize consensual same-sex sexual activity.
