Ghana’s parliament has recently approved a stringent new bill that criminalizes LGBTQ+ identities and activities, escalating a wave of opposition against LGBTQ+ rights in the conservative West African nation. Under the new legislation, individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ can face up to three years in prison, while forming or funding LGBTQ+ groups carries a maximum sentence of five years.
Efforts to replace prison sentences with alternatives such as community service and counselling were met with strong resistance from lawmakers. The bill, which garnered support from Ghana’s two major political parties, will only come into effect if President Nana Akufo-Addo signs it into law, a decision he previously stated would be influenced by the will of the Ghanaian majority.
Ghana already criminalizes same-sex relationships, with a three-year prison sentence as punishment. Amnesty International warned last month that the new bill “poses significant threats to the fundamental rights and freedoms” of LGBTQ+ individuals. Activists fear a surge in witch-hunts targeting LGBTQ+ community members and advocates. Many are now forced to go into hiding to protect themselves.
The bill imposes a harsher jail term of up to 10 years for those involved in LGBTQ+ advocacy campaigns targeted at children. It also encourages the public to report LGBTQ+ individuals to authorities for “necessary action.” Moreover, the legislation was drafted in response to the establishment of Ghana’s first LGBTQ+ community centre in the capital city of Accra earlier this year. The centre was subsequently shut down by the police due to public protests and pressure from religious and traditional leaders in the predominantly Christian nation.
Religious bodies, such as the Christian Council of Ghana and the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, released a joint statement, asserting that LGBTQ+ identities are “alien to the Ghanaian culture and family value system” and therefore unacceptable to the country’s citizens.
Though the bill passed by lawmakers is a slightly diluted version of an earlier draft, with shorter jail terms and the removal of a contentious clause on conversion therapy, concerns about the erosion of LGBTQ+ rights remain. During the extended debates in parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the deputy parliamentary leader of the governing party, suggested a vote through secret ballot to determine whether those convicted of being members of the LGBTQ+ community should receive prison sentences or be directed towards community service and counselling. However, supporters of prison sentences successfully silenced his proposition.
The passing of this bill highlights an ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights in Africa. Ghana follows in the footsteps of other African nations that have recently taken a hardliner stance against LGBTQ+ communities. Countries such as Nigeria and Uganda have implemented similar anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, leading to discrimination, persecution, and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals.
The approval of this controversial bill in Ghana raises concerns about the future of LGBTQ+ rights on the continent. It symbolizes the uphill battle faced by activists who strive for equality and inclusion in societies where LGBTQ+ identities are often stigmatized and criminalized. As LGBTQ+ Ghanaians feel the weight of legislation bearing down upon them, the international community continues to monitor the situation closely, to ensure the protection of human rights and the pursuit of equality for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
