Rights activists criticize the legislation that seeks to impose severe penalties, including imprisonment, on both LGBTQ individuals and advocates for gay rights in Ghana.
Ghana’s parliament has approved a contentious bill that significantly restricts LGBTQ rights, a move that has drawn condemnation from advocates for human rights. Sponsored by a coalition of religious and traditional leaders, the legislation, favored by most lawmakers, passed in parliament on Wednesday.
The bill targets individuals engaging in LGBTQ sexual activities and those promoting the rights of individuals with non-conventional sexual or gender identities, subjecting them to imprisonment. This legislation, considered one of the strictest in Africa, awaits validation by the president before becoming law, a step that observers believe is unlikely to occur before the general election in December.
Various activist groups view the “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values” bill as a setback for human rights and urge President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government to reject it. Despite opposition, the bill enjoys broad support in Ghana, where President Akufo-Addo has explicitly stated that gay marriage will not be permitted during his tenure.
Referred to as the anti-gay bill, it garnered support from a coalition consisting of Christian, Muslim, and traditional Ghanaian leaders, gaining substantial backing in Parliament. Although gay sex is already illegal in Ghana, the colonial-era law has not led to any prosecutions.
The bill stipulates imprisonment ranging from six months to three years for individuals engaging in LGBTQ sexual acts. Moreover, it imposes a prison sentence of three to five years for the “wilful promotion, sponsorship, or support of LGBTQ+ activities.”
‘Violates human rights’
A human rights coalition known as the Big 18, a group comprising lawyers and activists in Ghana, condemns the bill. Takyiwaa Manuh, a coalition member, asserts that the bill wrongfully criminalizes a person’s identity, violating the human rights of the LGBT community. Opposition lawmaker Sam George, the bill’s main sponsor, urges President Akufo-Addo to endorse it, claiming it addresses LGBTQ issues effectively.
Members of Ghana’s LGBTQ community express concern about the potential repercussions of the bill. Alex Donkor, the founder and director of LGBT+ Rights Ghana, emphasizes that the bill will further marginalize and endanger LGBTQ individuals, fostering an environment of fear and persecution with harsh penalties for both individuals and activists.
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