By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Ghanaian Parliament has stirred heated debates by approving the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, commonly referred to as the anti-LGBTQ bill.
The bill, spearheaded by Sam Nartey George, Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, aims to criminalize LGBTQ activities and any form of advocacy or funding associated with them.
Under this new legislation, individuals found engaging in LGBTQ activities could face imprisonment ranging from six months to three years, while supporters or promoters may be sentenced to three to five years behind bars.
The bill’s passage follows years of parliamentary deliberations, marked by both support and opposition.
Despite calls from civil society groups, including Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, the Board Chair of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development, urging President Nana Akufo-Addo to reject the bill, Parliament forged ahead with its approval.
Takyiwaa Manuh, a senior fellow at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development, expressed dismay over the bill’s passage, citing concerns about its compatibility with Ghana’s constitution and democratic principles.
Manuh noted the potential negative repercussions of the bill on various sectors of society, urging President Akufo-Addo to uphold the nation’s values and constitution.
However, the bill now awaits the president’s approval, with its fate uncertain.
This move by the Ghanaian Parliament mirrors similar controversial legislation enacted in Uganda in May 2023, where strict anti-LGBT laws, including severe penalties such as the death penalty for certain homosexual acts, were implemented.