Ghanaian lawmakers have reintroduced a bill that, if passed, would become one of Africa’s most restrictive pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
- Ghanaian lawmakers reintroduce bill for one of Africa’s most restrictive anti-LGBTQ+ legislation
- Proposed bill increases maximum penalty for same-sex acts to five years and introduces jail terms for individuals promoting LGBTQ+ activities
- Reintroduced bill faces strong backlash from human rights groups locally and internationally
Three of the bill’s sponsors confirmed the development to Reuters, stating that an earlier attempt to pass the law had been stalled due to legal challenges.
Currently, same-sex sexual acts in Ghana are punishable by up to three years in prison. However, the proposed bill would increase the maximum penalty to five years and introduce jail terms for individuals found guilty of “wilful promotion, sponsorship, or support of LGBTQ+ activities.”
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Parliamentary Approval and Presidential Delay
In February 2024, Ghana’s parliament approved the bill. However, former President Nana Akufo-Addo did not sign it into law before leaving office in January 2025, handing over to President John Dramani Mahama. Under Ghanaian law, any bill passed by parliament must be signed by the president before it becomes law.
Despite the delay, ruling party lawmakers Samuel Nartey George and Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, alongside opposition MP John Ntim Fordjour, confirmed that the same bill had been reintroduced in parliament on February 25, 2025, sponsored by a total of 10 lawmakers.
Stricter Penalties for LGBTQ+ Individuals and Advocates
The reintroduced bill proposes severe measures:
- Individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ could face three years in prison.
- Promoters and advocates of LGBTQ+ rights could receive five to ten years in jail.
Lawmakers argue that the bill aims to protect children and those considered victims of abuse. However, critics say it represents a dangerous escalation of discrimination against sexual and gender minorities.
Local and International Condemnation
The proposed legislation has faced strong backlash from human rights groups, both locally and internationally. The United Nations described it as “profoundly disturbing,” while other advocacy organisations have labelled it draconian.
Historically, Ghana has been recognised as one of the more progressive African nations regarding human rights. However, the passing of this bill last year triggered widespread condemnation from the international community, with concerns over its impact on Ghana’s democratic and human rights record.
Economic risks and potential financial fallout
Beyond human rights concerns, Ghana’s Ministry of Finance previously warned that the bill could have severe economic consequences. In 2024, the ministry cautioned that the proposed legislation could put $3.8 billion in World Bank funding at risk and jeopardise Ghana’s $3 billion bailout programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The economic risks echo similar actions taken by the World Bank in 2023, when it halted new funding to Uganda after the East African country enacted its own anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
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Political tensions over the bill
Although President John Dramani Mahama has previously expressed his commitment to passing the bill, he recently stated that it should be reintroduced by the government rather than by individual members of parliament (MPs).
However, opposition lawmaker John Ntim Fordjour dismissed the president’s stance, insisting that parliament is an independent institution and does not require executive approval before proceeding with legislative matters.
“He must be reminded that parliament is an independent institution and that the executive cannot dictate to parliament what it must do,” Fordjour told the Associated Press (AP).
Next steps for the bill
With the bill now reintroduced, it will proceed through Ghana’s parliamentary processes once again. Should it pass, it will return to President Mahama for his approval. However, given the legal, economic, and human rights concerns surrounding the legislation, the coming months will likely see intensified domestic and international scrutiny.
