Ghana passes bill that makes identifying as LGBTQ+ illegal

Ghana’s parliament passed a bill on Wednesday that imposes a prison sentence of up to three years for anyone convicted of identifying as LGBTQ+.

It also imposes a maximum five-year jail term for forming or funding LGBTQ+ groups. It would punish the promotion of rights of those who are lesbian, gay or other non-conventional sexual or gender identities.

The BBC reports that a coalition of Christian, Muslim, and Ghanaian traditional leaders sponsored the legislation, which is favoured by most lawmakers. At the time, the Christian Council of Ghana and the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council said in a joint statement that being LGBTQ+ was “alien to the Ghanaian culture and family value system and, as such, the citizens of this nation cannot accept it”.

The bill, which had the backing of Ghana’s two major political parties, will come into effect only if President Nana Akufo-Addo signs it into law. He previously asserted that he would do so if the majority of Ghanaians want him to.

The bill proposes a jail term of up to 10 years for anyone involved in LGBTQ+ advocacy campaigns aimed at children. It also encourages the public to report members of the LGBTQ+ community to authorities for “necessary action”.
MPs said the bill was drafted in response to the opening of Ghana’s first LGBTQ+ community centre in the capital, Accra, in January 2021.

However, Gay s+x is already against the law in Ghana – it carries a three-year prison sentence.