Ghana Reintroduces Controversial Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill
Stricter Penalties for Same-Sex Relationships
Ghanaian lawmakers have once again brought forward the Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, a piece of legislation aiming to impose harsher restrictions on LGBTQ+ individuals. Under the current law, engaging in same-sex relationships can lead to a prison sentence of up to three years. However, the revised bill proposes extending this maximum penalty to five years.
Furthermore, the bill introduces prison sentences ranging from five to ten years for individuals or organizations that provide financial support, advocate for, or promote LGBTQ+ rights. This move is seen as an attempt to stifle activism and diminish the presence of queer advocacy groups within the country.
The Bill’s Return After Legislative Expiration
Initially introduced in 2021 under the name Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, the legislation was approved by Parliament on February 28, 2024. However, then-President Nana Akufo-Addo chose not to sign it into law before leaving office, citing ongoing legal disputes.
These legal challenges were ultimately dismissed in December 2024 due to the absence of a presidential signature required for judicial review. When Akufo-Addo’s term ended in January 2025, the bill officially lapsed, prompting lawmakers to push for its reintroduction.
Endorsement from President John Mahama
Ghanaian President John Mahama has openly expressed his support for the bill. Speaking at a religious gathering, Fellowship with the Clergy, on February 28, 2025, he reaffirmed his stance, stating: “As a Christian, I stand by the belief that there are only two genders—male and female—and that marriage is between a man and a woman.”
Mahama has reportedly discussed the bill’s progression with the Speaker of Parliament, advocating for it to be presented as a government-backed initiative rather than solely a parliamentary motion. His administration appears intent on enshrining these policies into law under the banner of upholding family values.
Read also : Ghana’s Legislative Body Votes to Outlaw LGBTQ+ Existences and Support
Political Figures Leading the Reintroduction
On February 27, 2025, opposition MP Reverend John Ntim Fordjour confirmed to Citi News that the bill had been reintroduced. He urged President Mahama to provide his final approval, ensuring its swift passage into law.
The initiative has garnered support from ten lawmakers, including Samuel Nartey George and Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, both prominent members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Backlash from Human Rights Advocates
LGBTQ+ rights organizations have strongly condemned the bill, viewing it as a direct attack on marginalized communities. LGBT+ Rights Ghana criticized the legislation, calling it a product of “political and religious-driven homophobia” designed to further suppress LGBTQ+ individuals.
Following the bill’s initial passage in 2024, Larissa Kojoué, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, warned that such measures contradict Ghana’s historical values of tolerance and hospitality. She also highlighted concerns over increased risks of violence and human rights violations.
Despite international criticism and warnings from rights organizations, Ghanaian lawmakers remain committed to advancing this restrictive legislation, further tightening constraints on LGBTQ+ rights in the country.
Source : https://queervibesmag.com/reintroduction-of-the-anti-lgbtq-bill-in-ghana/
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