Ghana’s legislative body votes unanimously to make it a crime to identify as or support the LGBTQ+ community.

Ghana’s legislative body has come to a unanimous decision to make LGBTQ+ identities and allyship illegal.

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The Parliament of Ghana has unanimously passed a bill that would harshly punish homosexuality and those who support LGBTQ+ rights. The bill, which is currently awaiting approval from the President, seeks to increase the penalties for being LGBTQ+ from three years imprisonment to five years. It also criminalizes identifying as LGBTQ+ or supporting LGBTQ+ rights. This bill has caused outrage among human rights activists both in Ghana and around the world.

The legislation was introduced after the opening of Ghana’s first LGBTQ+ advocacy center in January 2021, which faced backlash and was eventually closed due to public protests. Titled the “Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Act,” the bill aims to suppress any form of LGBTQ+ activism or advocacy in the country.

David Stacy from the Human Rights Campaign spoke out against the passage of the bill, stating that it violates the fundamental rights of LGBTQI+ individuals and their allies in Ghana. The bill has been met with criticism from activists and organizations, who see it as a violation of human rights.

British-Ghanaian artist and photographer Campbell Addy expressed his concern over the bill through a powerful poem, highlighting the impact it would have on LGBTQ+ individuals in Ghana. He emphasized the importance of continuing to thrive despite discriminatory laws.

The history of LGBTQ+ rights in Ghana dates back to British colonial rule in the 1860s when same-sex sexual activity was criminalized. While some politicians claim that being queer is not part of Ghanaian culture and was brought in by Western influences, research suggests otherwise.

Despite efforts to erase LGBTQ+ identities from Ghana’s history, there is evidence of same-sex relationships and formalized partnerships in the past. This bill poses a significant challenge to LGBTQ+ rights in Ghana and highlights the ongoing struggle for equality and acceptance faced by the community. As activists and allies continue to fight for justice and equality, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, the bill awaits presidential approval.

Rights for the LGBTQ+ community.