Lawmakers in Ghana have reintroduced a controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill that was passed by parliament last year but not enacted, a sponsor confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday.
The bill, which criminalizes the promotion of LGBTQ+ activities, was passed by Ghana’s parliament in 2021 but was not signed into law by former President Nana Akufo-Addo before his term ended. Akufo-Addo stated he was waiting for a ruling from the Supreme Court on a legal challenge to the bill. In December 2023, the court dismissed the challenge, clearing the way for the bill’s potential enactment. Akufo-Addo left office shortly thereafter, having lost his bid for another term.
Ghana, which has generally been viewed as more human rights-conscious than many other African countries, faced significant international backlash after the bill passed last year. The United Nations condemned the bill, calling it “profoundly disturbing,” and it drew criticism from rights groups around the world for its potential to further harm LGBTQ+ individuals.
Under current Ghanaian law, same-sex relations are illegal and carry a prison sentence of up to three years. If enacted, the new bill would increase penalties, imposing up to five years in prison for those found guilty of “willful promotion, sponsorship, or support of LGBTQ+ activities.”
New President John Dramani Mahama, who took office in January 2025, has expressed support for the bill. However, he has stated that it should be reintroduced by the government, rather than through individual members of parliament.
Opposition lawmaker John Ntim Fordjour, a sponsor of the bill, criticized Mahama’s position. “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 AP.
Fordjour, along with nine other lawmakers, reintroduced the bill last week, continuing to push for its passage. The bill’s sponsors have argued that it is necessary to protect children and vulnerable individuals from exploitation and abuse related to LGBTQ+ activities.
The bill has raised concerns about its potential economic impact. Ghana’s Ministry of Finance warned last year that the legislation could jeopardize $3.8 billion in funding from the World Bank, and might also derail the $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout program agreed to in 2023. Ghana is currently in the process of recovering from one of its worst economic recessions in decades.
The international community has expressed concern over the bill’s implications for both human rights and Ghana’s economic stability. Last year, the World Bank indicated it would reconsider new funding for Uganda after the country passed its own anti-LGBTQ+ law.
As Ghana’s economy continues its recovery, the reintroduction of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill could complicate relations with international donors and financial institutions. The growing controversy over the bill highlights the tension between the country’s social policies and its need for external financial support.
Despite the challenges, Ghana’s lawmakers, including the bill’s sponsors, remain committed to its passage, arguing that it is crucial to protect Ghanaian society from what they describe as the dangers of LGBTQ+ activism.
The situation is being closely monitored by both local and international human rights organizations, who are calling for increased protection of LGBTQ+ rights in the country and urging the government to reconsider its stance on the bill.
