Ghana's Parliament has given its approval to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, widely recognized as a highly repressive anti-LGBTQ+ law in Africa. The bill, which passed its third reading on Friday, is now awaiting ratification by President John Mahama to take effect as law. This legislation seeks to criminalize activities related to LGBTQ+ practices within Ghana.

The core provisions of the law impose significant penalties for individuals involved in homosexual relations, with jail terms of up to three years. Furthermore, promoting, sponsoring, or intentionally supporting LGBT+ activities could lead to imprisonment ranging from three to five years. Supporters of the bill assert its aim is to uphold and promote traditional Ghanaian family values and cultural norms.

This is not the first attempt to enact such legislation. A similar bill was unanimously passed by Parliament in 2024, but the then-President Nana Akufo-Addo did not sign it. Under Ghana's constitutional framework, any draft legislation not signed by the president before the conclusion of a parliamentary term automatically lapses, necessitating its re-passage by the new parliament. The version approved on Friday retains the fundamental aspects of the previous bill but importantly incorporates new exemptions.

These introduced amendments are crucial, as they protect certain professionals from punishment under the law. For instance, lawyers can continue to represent LGBTQ+ clients without facing penalties. Similarly, media professionals will be permitted to address these sensitive issues, and healthcare providers will be able to offer care or psychological support to LGBT+ individuals without fear of reprisal. This directly addresses some of the concerns raised by human rights advocates regarding the previous iteration of the bill.

Ghana is a deeply religious and conservative country, predominantly Christian, where same-sex relationships have historically been prohibited under a law inherited from the British colonial era. Despite this, there have been no known prosecutions on these grounds to date. President Mahama, in February 2025, publicly stated his belief in the existence of only two genders, male and female, and that marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman, aligning with the conservative sentiment.

The passage of this bill has sparked extensive public debate both domestically and internationally. While many local groups support the legislation as a defense of national values, numerous human rights organizations and several international bodies have strongly condemned it, citing concerns over human rights and freedoms. Globally, approximately 60 countries criminalize same-sex relations, with about half of these located in Africa, according to data from the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA).