LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Ghana has moved closer to enacting one of Africa’s strictest anti-LGBTQ laws after parliament approved a controversial bill that now awaits the assent of President John Mahama.
Ghana’s Parliament on Friday approved a controversial anti-LGBTQ bill.
The legislation, officially known as the Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill could introduce some of the harshest restrictions on sexual minority rights on the African continent.
It was made public on Friday and now awaits the approval of President before it can officially become law.
Under the proposed law, individuals found engaging in same-sex relationships could face up to three years in prison.
The bill also prescribes prison terms ranging from three to five years for anyone accused of promoting, sponsoring or deliberately supporting LGBTQ-related activities.
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The legislation had previously received unanimous backing from lawmakers in 2024, but former President Nana Akufo-Addo did not sign it before leaving office.
Under Ghana’s constitutional provisions, any bill that is not signed into law before the expiration of a parliamentary term automatically lapses and must be reconsidered by a newly constituted parliament.
Following a fresh review, lawmakers approved the measure. While the latest version retains the core provisions of the earlier bill, it introduces exemptions for legal practitioners, media professionals and healthcare workers.
Ghana already prohibits same-sex relationships under a colonial-era law inherited from British rule.
Despite the existing legal restrictions, there have been no recorded prosecutions solely based on consensual same-sex relationships.
Supporters of the bill argue that it reflects the country’s cultural and religious values as Ghana remains a socially conservative nation where Christianity is the dominant faith.
Meanwhile, the legislation has attracted strong criticism from human rights organizations and several international bodies, which argue that it could further restrict the rights and freedoms of LGBTQ individuals.
Attention is now focused on President Mahama, whose decision will determine whether the bill becomes law or faces another hurdle before implementation.
