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Ghana passes bill imposing prison terms for LGBTQ+ identity, advocacy

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Approved/passed
  • Ghana's parliament has passed a bill that criminalizes homosexuality and the promotion of LGBTQ+ activities, with penalties including prison sentences.
  • The bill imposes up to three years in jail for same-sex relationships and up to 10 years for promoting LGBTQ+ acts, including funding.
  • The legislation, which aligns with a trend in some African countries, aims to protect Ghanaian family values and cultural norms, despite criticism from human rights organizations.

Ghana's parliament has passed a new bill that criminalizes homosexuality and the "promotion of LGBTQ+ activities," imposing significant prison sentences for those involved. The legislation, passed on Saturday, mandates a maximum of three years in jail for individuals in same-sex relationships and for those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a penalty of up to 10 years in jail for anyone found to be "promoting" LGBTQ+ acts, which includes providing financial support to LGBTQ+ groups and activities. Even allies of the LGBTQ+ community could face prison sentences under the new law. The bill also includes a "duty to report" gay acts to the police, though legal, media, and healthcare professionals involved in reporting on or treating LGBTQ+ issues are excluded from this requirement.

The bill's sponsor, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, stated that the legislation is intended to safeguard Ghanaian family values and cultural norms. He explained that the new law would make existing statutes "more robust, more encompassing and more stringent in dealing with the practices of LGBTQI." This development occurs just as the world prepares to observe Pride Month.

Human Rights Watch had previously described the bill as "draconian" when it was reintroduced in March, urging its abandonment. The bill replaces a 2024 version that was never signed into law by the former president. Current President John Mahama has shown support, having previously stated his belief that "only two genders exist – man and woman - and that marriage is between a man and a woman." Same-sex relationships have been banned in Ghana since the British colonial era, and Ghana now joins a growing list of African nations enacting strict anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, following Uganda's highly restrictive laws and Senegal's penalties for same-sex acts.

in the principles and values that only two genders exist – man and woman - and that marriage is between a man and a woman

— John MahamaGhana's President John Mahama's stated beliefs on gender and marriage, indicating support for the bill.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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