Ghana’s parliament has formally reintroduced the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill that would criminalise LGBTQIA+ people and punish anyone who supports them
BY NIC CROSARA, IMAGE BY ANETE LUSINA/VIA PEXELS
In Ghana, parliament is once again trying to push through the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill. This piece of legislation would criminalise LGBTQIA+ people, as well as anyone who supports them. This is not the first time the bill has appeared. Last year, after an outpouring of local and international resistance, it was stopped. We’ve beaten it before; we can do so again. But it is vital that we fight harder than before. The bill is back and, this time around, it has stronger political support.
If approved, what would the penalties be?
- People identifying as LGBTQIA+ could face up to three years in prison
- Those promoting LGBTQIA+ rights ot offering support services would face five to 10 years
- Same-sex relationships, gender-affirming care, sex toys and LGBTQIA+-inclusive education would be banned
- Allyship, funding and advocacy in both physical and virtual realms would be criminalised
What can you do to help LGBTQIA+ people in Ghana?
Rightify Ghana and All Out have launched a global petition that calls on Ghana’s leaders to reject the bill and protect basic human rights.
Sign the petition today: campaigns.allout.org/ghana-reject-the-anti-lgbt-bill.
What have people said about the bill?
“Personally, I am devastated. This bill makes me fear for my safety, my livelihood, and my future. Queer lives are being used as political tools, while we are already surviving daily harassment, violence, and exclusion. Since this bill emerged, hostility has escalated and people feel licensed to harm us, openly and without shame. As a public health nurse and HIV cure advocate, it restricts my ability to reach key populations and undermines care, trust, and prevention. This bill strips us of privacy, safety, and dignity, turning identity into a crime and placing human lives at risk.” – An anonymous Ghanaian trans woman
“No one should face prison, stigma, or violence simply because of who they are or whom they love. The reintroduction of this bill is a grave threat to fundamental human rights. This bill is not about protecting families or values, it is about punishing people for who they are. We stand in solidarity with LGBT+ people in Ghana and with the many Ghanaians who believe in dignity, fairness, and equal protection under the law.” – Linda Njiru, Campaigns Manager, Africa, All Out
“The bill goes beyond criminalising certain conduct. It creates broad obligations on parents, educators, religious institutions, and the media to promote a state-defined understanding of “family values.” It introduces mandatory reporting requirements, extends liability to digital platforms and corporate officers, dissolves existing LGBT+ organisations, and amends the to make offences under the Bill extraditable. LGBT+ Ghanaians are not safe in Ghana or anywhere else. Lives are at stake and we need to act now.” – Ebenezer from Rightify Ghana
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