Accra — June 2, 2026 — Ghana’s Parliament has passed one of the world’s most sweeping anti‑LGBTQ laws, introducing prison terms for individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill was approved late Friday, despite only 32 of 276 Members of Parliament being present — raising questions about quorum and procedure.
The Bill prescribes punishments ranging from six months for “gross indecency” such as public displays of same‑sex affection, to up to 10 years for activities deemed supportive of LGBTQ rights. Landlords and tenants can face prison for renting or using premises for “same‑sex activities,” while advocacy and promotional efforts carry penalties of five to 10 years.
Civil society coalition Ukumbini, representing over 100 African organizations, has appealed to President John Mahama to return the Bill to Parliament for a full sitting and transparent process. Mahama, currently in London, acknowledged procedural lapses and said his legal team will review the legislation before deciding whether to send it back.
The timing of the Bill coincides with the Inter‑parliamentary Network on African Sovereignty and Values conference in Accra, a gathering of conservative MPs from across Africa. Human rights advocates argue the Bill reflects a coordinated push by anti‑rights groups, including Family Watch International, to advance restrictive legislation across the continent.
Critics warn the law will undermine public health, citing Senegal’s similar legislation earlier this year, which led to a sharp drop in HIV treatment consultations. Analysts also note the Bill contradicts Ghana’s leadership in the Accra Reset, an initiative promoting investment in health and stronger African influence in global health governance.
The proposed African Charter on Family, Sovereignty and Values, promoted at the conference, narrowly defines family as heterosexual marriage, clashing with existing African treaties such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Maputo Protocol. Scholars argue this definition erases Africa’s diverse pre‑colonial family structures and imposes a foreign model under the guise of tradition.
