Ghana Revives Anti-LGBTQ Bill, Human Rights Defenders Urge the Public to Submit Letters

Advocates are calling on Ghanaian leaders and the international community to respond after parliament reintroduced legislation that would criminalize LGBTQ identity and advocacy while threatening core rights, including free expression and equality.

Ghana’s parliament has revived a controversial anti-LGBTQ bill that rights advocates say would dramatically expand criminal penalties against sexual minorities and those who support them, reigniting a debate that has lingered for years over the country’s human rights commitments.

On Feb. 17, lawmakers formally received the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, legislation widely known as Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ bill. The proposal marks the latest step in a legislative effort that first emerged in 2021 and has since become one of the most closely watched flashpoints in global debates over LGBTQ rights.

If enacted, the measure would significantly broaden criminal sanctions related to same-sex relationships and gender identity. Under the bill, individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender could face up to three years in prison. The legislation also targets those who advocate for LGBTQ rights, exposing parents of LGBTQ children, teachers, journalists, medical professionals, and human rights defenders to prosecution.

Critics warn that the bill goes further than previous proposals by attempting to dismantle civil society support networks. LGBTQ organizations could be forced to dissolve, while donors and partner institutions may face legal risks for their association with advocacy groups.

The renewed push for the law follows a complicated political timeline. Ghana’s parliament passed an earlier version of the bill in February 2024, but it ultimately expired after then-President Nana Akufo-Addo declined to sign it into law.

At the time, Akufo-Addo said he would not allow Ghana to backslide on human rights and the rule of law. His position left the legislation stalled, despite strong backing from several lawmakers and conservative advocacy groups.

The political landscape shifted in January 2025 when President John Dramani Mahama returned to office. Mahama has signaled support for the proposal, raising the likelihood that a newly passed version could receive presidential approval.

Human rights organizations say the bill would deepen an already hostile environment for LGBTQ people in Ghana. Since 2021, community members have reported increasing repression, including arbitrary arrests, the closure of support services, and widespread stigmatizing media coverage.

Advocates argue that the bill would transform social discrimination into a far-reaching legal regime, one that extends criminal liability beyond LGBTQ people themselves to anyone offering public support or resources.

“The scope of the law goes far beyond regulating conduct,” said one Ghana-based human rights advocate who asked not to be named due to safety concerns. “It criminalizes identity, advocacy, and even basic compassion.”

The legislative push comes as Ghana prepares to host the fourth African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family and Sovereignty in Accra in May 2026. The gathering has drawn scrutiny from researchers who note documented ties to U.S.-based far-right advocacy organizations.

Previous conferences have featured speakers who promoted Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act as a model for other African legislatures, raising fears among activists that the Accra meeting could accelerate regional efforts to expand anti-LGBTQ legislation.

Despite the momentum behind the bill, opposition voices have emerged from across Ghana’s civic and religious life.

Cardinal Peter Turkson, one of the most prominent figures in the Catholic Church in Africa, has called for dialogue rather than criminalization, urging leaders to avoid legislation that could deepen division.

Samia Nkrumah, a former member of parliament and daughter of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, has also warned that the bill risks undermining Ghana’s reputation as a democratic leader on the continent.

Ghana’s Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice has likewise cautioned lawmakers that the proposed law could violate constitutional protections and international human rights obligations. The commission said the legislation raises concerns about infringements on equality, freedom of expression, and privacy.

Supporters of the bill argue it reflects widely held cultural and religious values in Ghana. However, critics say framing LGBTQ rights as incompatible with Ghanaian identity creates a false divide between national culture and internationally recognized human rights principles.

Legal scholars and advocacy groups note that Ghana is party to several international treaties that guarantee protections against discrimination and uphold the right to free expression.

For LGBTQ Ghanaians, the outcome of the legislation could have profound consequences, shaping whether advocacy, community organizing, and even personal identity can exist without the threat of criminal punishment.

As parliament weighs the revived bill, rights advocates say the debate will test Ghana’s long-standing reputation as a stable democracy that respects the rule of law.

Human rights defenders are urging Ghanaian lawmakers, civil society leaders, and international partners to respond before the legislation advances further. Advocacy groups say sustained public dialogue, legal scrutiny, and diplomatic engagement will be critical to protecting fundamental freedoms if the bill moves forward.

They argue that Ghana’s democratic institutions and constitutional protections provide a pathway for rejecting laws that criminalize identity or restrict peaceful advocacy.

For many activists, the moment represents not only a legislative fight but a broader test of whether Ghana will uphold the principles of equality, nondiscrimination, and human dignity that it has pledged to protect both domestically and under international law.