A group of 10 MPs in Ghana has resubmitted a controversial bill aimed at imposing some of the strictest restrictions on LGBT rights in Africa. The proposed legislation includes a three-year jail term for individuals who identify as gay, and sentences ranging from five to 10 years for those who promote or advocate for LGBT rights.
Although the bill passed in parliament last year, former President Akufo-Addo declined to sign it into law, citing potential legal challenges. The original bill expired with the previous Parliament, and it remains unclear whether the new Parliament’s speaker will allow it to be considered.
Human rights organizations, both within Ghana and internationally, have condemned the bill as draconian, with many warning that it could lead to increased violence against LGBT individuals. Human Rights Watch has expressed concerns about the bill’s conflict with Ghana’s tradition of tolerance and peace, as well as the country’s international human rights obligations. LGBT activists, including Ghanaian trans woman Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, have expressed their dismay at the bill’s reintroduction, though they remain determined to continue their activism in the face of such setbacks.
Economic concerns have also emerged in response to the bill, with warnings that passing it could result in Ghana losing significant international development funding. The country’s former finance minister has estimated that Ghana could lose up to $3.8bn (£2.9bn) in funding from the World Bank and risk damaging its $3bn (£2.3bn) IMF support programme. Despite these warnings, some lawmakers, like John Ntim Fordjour, argue that the current global political climate is more supportive of conservative values, citing the approach of former US President Donald Trump. The bill, which was first introduced in 2021, has faced numerous delays but continues to divide opinion.