Ghana's parliament has approved a sweeping bill that criminalises the promotion of LGBTQ+ activities and identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer, with prison sentences of three to 10 years. The legislation, known as the human sexual rights and family values bill, is expected to be signed into law by President John Dramani Mahama.
Community organisations say LGBTQ+ people are living in fear, worried they could lose their homes, jobs or access to healthcare. Many are reviewing and deleting online posts to avoid being identified. Leila Lariba, director of One Love Sisters Ghana, said: 'People are panicking and scared. The new bill affects where you are staying; it can get you evicted; it can lead you to lose your job.'
Same-sex relations were already banned under British colonial law but rarely enforced. The new legislation expands criminal liability, affecting both LGBTQ+ people and allies who provide services, support or advocacy. It also requires people to report suspected LGBTQ+ individuals. Amendments exempt healthcare professionals and lawyers from prosecution, but activists warn the stigma may deter people from seeking help.
Ebenezer Peegah, director of Rightify Ghana, said: 'This bill is very far-reaching: it criminalises identity; it criminalises services, including the operations of civil society groups and doctors giving care to the LGBTQ community.' He added that his organisation has already recorded 80 cases of abuse, eviction or exposure this year.
The bill's sponsor, the Rev John Ntim Fordjour, claimed it would protect Ghanaian family and cultural values. The legislation comes as Ghana hosts the fourth African inter-parliamentary conference on family values and sovereignty, following similar harsh anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Uganda.
