Ghana’s Parliament approved the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill on Friday, May 29, 2026, reintroducing one of Africa’s most stringent anti-LGBTQ laws and sending it to President John Dramani Mahama for ratification.
The bill passed by a voice vote after the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee unanimously recommended its adoption, First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor announced. Parliament had passed an identical version in February 2024 under former President Nana Akufo-Addo, but it lapsed when Akufo-Addo did not sign it before the end of his term.
Under the approved legislation, individuals who engage in same-sex sexual acts face up to three years in prison. The bill also criminalizes “funding, sponsorship or promotion” of LGBTQ activities, with penalties ranging from three to five years imprisonment. It introduces a “duty to report” prohibited acts to police or other authorities, with violators facing up to three years behind bars.
The revised version includes exemptions for legal practitioners providing advice or representation, journalists and media organizations reporting on LGBTQ issues, and medical professionals offering surgical, psychological, or counseling services. Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga said the exemptions were intended to protect professional duties.
The bill was reintroduced last year shortly after Mahama returned to office. Religious groups have pressed for its passage, arguing it protects Ghana’s cultural and family values. Same-sex relationships are already prohibited under colonial-era laws, though there have been no prosecutions on those grounds to date.
Human rights groups and international organizations have condemned the legislation, warning it threatens privacy, health, and freedom of expression. The bill now awaits President Mahama’s signature to become law.
