Ghana’s President Pledges to Sign Harsh Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill into Law
ACCRA, Ghana – Ghana’s President John Mahama has committed to signing a stringent anti-LGBTQ+ bill into law if it is passed by the country’s Parliament, according to an announcement by the human rights organization Rightify Ghana.
The legislation, known as the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, was first passed in 2024 but was stalled due to legal challenges. It has now been reintroduced for parliamentary approval.
If enacted, the law would impose severe penalties, criminalizing same-sex relationships and any form of LGBTQ+ identification. Individuals could face up to three years in prison for simply identifying as LGBTQ+. The bill also targets advocates and allies, stipulating prison sentences of up to 10 years for those who promote LGBTQ+ rights or provide funding to related groups.
The proposed legislation would also formally ban same-sex marriage, criminalize attending a same-sex wedding, and prohibit gender-affirming care for transgender individuals.
While Ghana already criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity under a colonial-era law, the new bill would dramatically expand the scope and severity of punishments, creating one of the most sweeping anti-LGBTQ+ legal frameworks in Africa.
President Mahama has publicly expressed his support for the bill, aligning his administration with its objectives. He emphasized that his government upholds “traditional family values,” signaling his intent to sign it into law if it clears Parliament.
The bill’s reintroduction has heightened concerns among human rights groups both within Ghana and internationally, who warn that it would institutionalize discrimination and lead to widespread persecution of the LGBTQ+ community.
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