Ghana’s Parliament Passes Controversial Rigid Anti-Homosexuality Bill 

by Jameelah Mullen

March 1, 2024

If the laws is handed, members of the LGTBQ neighborhood and their supporters might be sentenced to years in jail.

Ghana’s parliament has voted to move a controversial invoice that can make it a felony act to be overtly homosexual within the West African nation, based on Al Jazeera.

The invoice was offered to parliament in 2021 and acquired assist from a coalition of non secular and conventional leaders. It was sponsored by a number of lawmakers who handed the invoice on February 28. 

The invoice nonetheless needs to be endorsed by Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo, earlier than coming into into regulation. 

Parliament member Sam George, one of the crucial outspoken supporters of the invoice, is calling for the president’s endorsement. 

“We would like the president to stroll his discuss by appending his signature to the invoice to allow it to return into drive.” 

Activist teams are demanding that the President reject the “Human Sexual Rights and Household Values” invoice, which can also be known as the Anti-Homosexual Invoice. Though the president hasn’t overtly supported the invoice, he has stated that homosexual marriage won’t ever be allowed whereas he’s president. 

Below the provisions of the invoice, individuals who have interaction in LGBTQ sexual acts may face six months to a few years behind bars. Individuals who take part in “wilful promotion, sponsorship, or assist of LGBTQ+ actions” might obtain a sentence of three to 5 years.

The Massive 18, a human rights coalition consisting of attorneys and activists, has condemned the invoice.

“You can’t criminalize an individual’s id, and that’s what the invoice is doing and it’s completely fallacious,” Massive 18 member Takyiwaa Manuh instructed DW Information. 

“The passing of this invoice will additional marginalize and endanger LGBTQ people in Ghana.” LGBT+ Rights Ghana Alex Donkor stated in an interview with Al Jazeera. 

Discrimination towards LGBTQ+ individuals is already widespread within the West African nation, however Donker fears that, if handed, the invoice “threatens the security and wellbeing “ of the already weak LGBTQ+ neighborhood.

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