Breaking: Ghana’s Parliament Passes Anti-LGBTQ Bill, Awaiting Presidential Assent

Ghana’s parliament has greenlit a contentious anti-LGBTQ bill on Wednesday, marking a significant milestone after months of heated debate. Dubbed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values bill, it stands as one of the most stringent anti-LGBTQ legislations in Africa.

Already grappling with the illegality of homosexuality, punishable by up to three years in prison, Ghana braces for even stricter measures. Under the new law, offenders could face a maximum sentence of five years. Moreover, advocating for LGBTQ rights would become a criminal offense, alongside the distribution of material supportive of such rights.

Spearheaded by a consortium of traditional leaders from Ghana’s Christian and Muslim communities, the bill now awaits presidential endorsement from President Nana Akufo-Addo. While his stance remains undisclosed, he is anticipated to approve the legislation.

Opposition to the bill is fervent. The Big 18 & Human Rights Coalition, a coalition of legal practitioners and activists, decried the bill’s infringement on fundamental human rights at a recent press conference, urging the president to veto it.

Takyiwaa Manuh, a senior fellow at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development, raised concerns over the bill’s potential ramifications. She highlighted the absence of a mandated financial impact assessment, as stipulated by the constitution, underscoring the burden it could impose on the judiciary and law enforcement.

The bill’s passage has sparked outrage among civil society organizations, poised to mount legal challenges against it. Amid escalating tensions, reports of violence and discrimination against LGBTQ individuals have surged, prompting condemnation from global entities like the United Nations.

As Ghana grapples with the aftermath of this legislative move, the fate of LGBTQ rights hangs in the balance, with advocates vowing to defend against what they perceive as an assault on basic human dignity.