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| President John Mahama |
ACCRA, Ghana – Ghanaian President John Mahama has pledged to sign a sweeping anti-LGBTQ+ bill into law if it is passed by the nation's Parliament, according to the human rights organization Rightify Ghana.
The proposed legislation, known as the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, was initially passed in 2024 but was stalled by legal challenges. It has now been formally reintroduced for consideration.
The bill introduces severe penalties for LGBTQ+ identification and advocacy. Merely identifying as LGBTQ+ could result in a prison sentence of up to three years. Advocating for LGBTQ+ rights or providing financial support to related organizations could lead to a decade behind bars.
Further provisions would ban same-sex marriage, criminalize attending a same-sex wedding, and outlaw gender-affirming care for transgender individuals.
While Ghana already criminalizes same-sex sexual activity under colonial-era laws, this new bill would dramatically expand the scope and severity of punishments.
President Mahama has publicly expressed his support for the legislation, stating that his government is committed to upholding what he describes as “traditional family values.”