Ghana’s Parliament on Thursday approved a custodial sentence of a minimum of three (3) years and a maximum of five (5) years for the willful promotion, sponsorship, or support of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer+ (LGBTQ+) activities in the country.
This approval was part of an amendment to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, also known as the anti-gay bill.
In the same bill, anyone found engaging in LGBTQ+ practices will be subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 6 months, with the potential for up to 3 years imprisonment.
During deliberations on the bill, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram Constituency in the Greater Accra region, Sam Nartey George who has been the biggest advocate for the bill, indicated that the amended clauses were part of the reasons why the passing of the bill has delayed.
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“What created the confusion was the establishment of an advocacy of the promotion of the activities, that is what Ghanaians are against,” Sam George said. “Nobody is interested in what you do in your bedroom. And so the punishment for one caught in the act is to be a minimum of 6 months, a maximum of 3 years”.
In July 2023, Parliament unanimously passed the anti-gay bill which has been described by many local and international organizations as an “extreme” legislation that tightens the laws against members of Ghana’s LGBTQ+ community.
The bill is set to criminalize the promotion, advocacy, funding and acts of homosexuality. It stiffens prison terms up to ten years in prison for LGBTQ+ advocates and three years for anyone identifying as such. Moreover, the bill seeks to withdraw health services from this community, including HIV medication.
