Ghana Parliament Approves Criminalising Homosexuality, Allies Face Three-Year Prison Sentence
Ghana’s parliament has approved a sweeping bill criminalising homosexuality and the promotion of LGBTQ+ activities, with potential prison sentences of up to three years for those identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer.
The legislation further mandates a 'duty to report' prohibited acts to law enforcement, extending potential penalties to those designated as 'allies' of LGBTQ+ individuals.
Religious leaders have exerted considerable pressure on President John Dramani Mahama to ratify the legislation since his ascent to power last year. Mr. Mahama has previously affirmed his support, stating his belief in 'only two genders... and that marriage is between a man and a woman.'
Human Rights Watch has sharply criticised the bill, asserting it endangers LGBTQ+ lives and 'encourages citizens to surveil and denounce one another.' The organisation had formally recommended the bill’s abandonment during its scrutiny by the constitutional and legal affairs committee in Accra.
Existing laws in Ghana, inherited from the British colonial era, already prohibited same-sex relationships. Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, the bill's sponsor, stated the new measures would render existing legislation 'more robust, more encompassing, and more stringent in dealing with the practices of LGBTQI,' ostensibly to protect Ghanaian family and cultural values.
Exemptions within the bill apply to legal, media, and healthcare professionals reporting on LGBTQ+ issues or providing medical or other services to gay individuals.
This move aligns with a broader trend in several African nations, including Senegal, which approved similar legislation in March, and Uganda, which introduced a death penalty for certain same-sex acts in 2023.
