Ghana pushes anti-LGBTQ+ bill as defense of 'family values'

Lawmakers in Ghana have reintroduced an anti-LGBTQ+ bill that was passed by the country's parliament in February 2024, but not enacted.

The legislation, known as the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, called for prison terms of up to three years for engaging in same-sex sexual relations, and up to five years for those who engage in "willful promotion, sponsorship or support of LGBTQ+ activities."

Ghana's Supreme Court in December rejected two legal bids to block the bill. It ruled that, as outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo had not yet signed the bill into law, it could not be declared unconstitutional.

President John Mahama, who took office in January, said he was committed to passing the bill, which had widespread public support in Ghana but was condemned internationally for curtailing LGBTQ+ rights.

Ghana's LGBTQ+ community living in fear

Abdul-Wadud Mohammed, deputy director of LGBT Rights Ghana, told DW that he grew up in Ghana but left his homeland because he constantly felt "under threat" there. He said he knew by the age of 10 that he was gay.

"I grew up just trying to understand what I am. Everybody who knew me knew that I was gay and that has been my life," Mohammed said, adding that he, like the majority of queer people in Ghana, faces hate and hostility from some Ghanaians due to his sexuality. He is not alone.

"I personally witnessed someone being killed for being gay," a bisexual man, speaking on condition of anonymity, told DW. "A traumatic event that underscored the extreme danger I face." He, too, fled Ghana in fear of his safety.

A survey published by Afrobarometer in 2021 showed that Ghanaians are united and hospitable — but a majority are intolerant toward same-sex relationships.

Some 93% of Ghanaians questioned said they "somewhat dislike" or "strongly dislike" having people in same-sex relationships as neighbors, placing the country near the top in terms of intolerance across 23 African countries in the study.

What started the anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination?

During a radio interview in 2006, Prince Kweku MacDonald, president of the Gay and Lesbians Association of Ghana (GALAG), spoke about an upcoming conference of gay and lesbian people in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, and other venues across the country.

At the time, the government said it would not allow such an event to take place — a move that drew applause from many Ghanaians.

Some human rights activists believe it was a watershed moment for curtailing the rights of LGBTQ+ people in Ghana.

"Growing up, we could not even talk about sex between a man and a woman, much more to talk about LGBT rights ... it was a disruption of what we considered the harmonious heteronormative society we had carved for ourselves," said Michael Akagbor, a senior research fellow at the Ghana Center for Democratic Development, a think tank working to advance democracy.

Now, almost two decades later, sponsors of the bill have said it seeks to protect children and people who are victims of abuse.

Protecting 'family values' or sanctioning hate?

Ghanaian lawmaker Samuel George, the lead proponent of the bill, told DW that the people of Ghana "still strongly support the bill, and still think it is required in our contemporary life for the protection of our family values." 

George noted the US government's recent crackdown on programs for diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as last month's ruling by the UK's top court that British equality law defines a woman as an individual who was born biologically female. 

"I have stated emphatically that it takes 40 years for a country to realize the effects of homosexuality on it and that's where the US and the UK have gotten to," said George. "They are beginning to realize the damage it has done to their society. Ghana will not fall prey that."

Ghana's Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin said he is determined to see the anti-LGBTQ+ bill passed into law this year.

"It [homosexuality] is ungodly, and I will not tolerate any jokes on this matter," he said.

However, the Ghana Center for Democratic Development said the conversation on family values should be put in the context of societal good rather, than what the majority abhors.

"What does family value really mean? … Is corruption a family value? Is it something we should be proud of? Look at how corrupt our state actors are becoming, who is teaching them the values of corruption?" asked Akagbor.

Emmanuel Allotey, head pastor at Ghana's Amazing Light Christian Centre in Accra, said he opposes the legislation.

"It's a congenital issue and I don't think anyone should be blamed for its outcomes. It's rather unfortunate you find religious leaders show hostility on our people who are affected," Allotey told DW. "True Christianity will tolerate our brothers and sisters affected."

But some Ghanaians, like Abdul Mutalib Issah, a resident of Accra, think otherwise.

"If we have to leave everybody to do what they wish to do, it might cause crisis," he said.

Ghana's battle for LGBTQ+ rights

May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), an annual celebration to raise awareness about discrimination and violence faced by LGBTQ+ people.

This year's theme is "No one left behind: equality, freedom and justice for all."

The CDD believes the only way Ghana can end this long battle is for the country to consider any legislation against the sexuality of a minority group as a repression of their rights.

"We will use all the necessary legal avenues to challenge the bill. Our position has not changed; we still have the arsenal of using the court to right the wrong," said Akagbor.

Twenty years after discovering his sexuality, Abdul-Wadud said: "I wish that we will get to a point where people love each other not because of an inherent hate that was implanted or socialized in them but from a deeper beautiful place."

As the country awaits what will become of the bill, many members of Ghana's queer community live in constant fear of what the future may hold for them.

Edited by: Keith Walker

Correction, May 187, 2025: An earlier version of this article misspelled the name of Prince Kweku MacDonald. DW apologizes for the error.