“Shame on parliament,” said Naana Agyemang Preprah, a student at the University of Ghana. “I hate this country so much,” added the 26-year-old.
Religious and conservative voices, on the other hand, welcomed this law which provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison for people having homosexual relations, and three to five years for the promotion, sponsorship or intentional support of LGBT+ activities. “It’s a very good thing. Well done to parliament,” said Reverend Joseph Nii Obodai. “I know that President Mahama will do the right thing and will soon give his assent to this text.”
Head of State John Dramani Mahama must still validate the text adopted Friday by parliamentarians.
This draconian law takes up a version that parliament passed in 2024, but which expired due to lack of presidential signature before the end of the legislature.
Human rights lawyer Gloria Boadu believes the legislation threatens basic democratic freedoms because “the anti-LGBT+ bill does not only target queer people. It targets anyone who believes in human rights,” she said. “This is not democracy. It’s censorship.”
The text provides for exemptions for journalists, lawyers and health professionals acting in the exercise of their duties. But journalist Caleb Ahinakwah said the law could expose vulnerable groups to violence and create ethical dilemmas and uncertainty for reporters. “While the exemptions may protect certain professions, they do little to address the more general concern that the text could encourage the public to target, harass or attack people perceived to be queer.”
In this deeply conservative West African country, same-sex relationships are already subject to a strong social stigma and legally restricted by a provision dating back to the era of British colonization.
