Accra, Ghana – In a move that has reignited tensions within the Commonwealth, Ghana’s parliament today passed a controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill, criminalising same-sex relationships and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. The bill, known as the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, imposes prison sentences of up to ten years for consensual same-sex acts and up to five years for promoting LGBTQ+ rights. Activists say it marks a dark day for human rights in West Africa.
Sources on the ground confirm the bill sailed through a voice vote with little opposition, amid a climate of rising religious conservatism and political populism. President Nana Akufo-Addo has not yet signed it into law, but his administration has signalled support.
Across the Atlantic, the UK government moved quickly to distance itself. A Foreign Office spokesperson told this paper: ‘The UK is deeply concerned by this legislation. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to Commonwealth human rights standards, which include the decriminalisation of homosexuality and the protection of LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination.’ The statement stopped short of threatening sanctions, however.
This is not the first time Ghana has clashed with the UK over human rights. In 2021, London criticised a similar crackdown. But the timing is awkward. The UK is hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in June, where human rights are scheduled to be a key agenda item. Sources inside the Foreign Office admit the Ghana vote ‘complicates the messaging’.
Uncovered documents obtained by this paper reveal that several UK-based multinationals with operations in Ghana – including mining and telecoms giants – have been lobbying behind the scenes to water down the bill. Their fear: that a hardline law could trigger consumer boycotts at home. But their efforts appear to have failed.
The bill’s passage is a blow to the Commonwealth’s stated principles. The organisation’s charter explicitly condemns discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Yet 11 of its 56 member states still criminalise homosexuality. Ghana now joins Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria in enacting draconian laws in recent years.
Human rights groups are furious. Amnesty International called it ‘a devastating setback for human rights in Ghana’. Local LGBTQ+ activists, who have faced increasing harassment, are preparing legal challenges. One told me: ‘We are not giving up. This bill will be tested in court, and we will fight it.’
The bill’s supporters, meanwhile, are celebrating. A coalition of religious leaders and traditional chiefs hailed it as ‘protecting Ghanaian values from Western decadence’. But the economic cost may be steep. Ghana is already struggling with a debt crisis and seeking a bailout from the IMF. International investors and donors have warned that such laws can destabilise markets.
As the sun set over Accra, I watched a small group of protesters – no more than fifty – gather outside parliament. They held rainbow flags and placards reading ‘Love Is Not A Crime’. Police watched silently. For now, Ghana remains a country divided. The bill awaits the president’s signature. The UK watches. And the Commonwealth’s credibility hangs in the balance.
This is a developing story. More to follow.
