Ghana has postponed consideration of its controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill, known as the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, following intense diplomatic pressure from Commonwealth partners. The delay marks a significant retreat for a government that had previously signalled strong support for the legislation, which would impose prison sentences of up to ten years for consensual same-sex acts and criminalise advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights.
The bill, introduced in 2021 by a coalition of religious and traditional leaders, had been fast-tracked through parliament and was expected to receive presidential assent this month. However, sources within the presidency confirm that President Nana Akufo-Addo has instructed the Attorney General to review the bill’s compatibility with Ghana’s international obligations, including those under the Commonwealth Charter, which commits member states to “tolerance, respect and understanding” and to “the equal worth and dignity of all persons.”
The Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 56 nations largely drawn from former British colonies, has become increasingly vocal in opposing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation among its members. In February, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, issued a pointed statement warning that such laws “undermine the fundamental values of the Commonwealth” and risk isolating nations from international partnerships. Ghana, a key West African ally of the UK and a recipient of significant Commonwealth development aid, faces particular scrutiny.
Human rights organisations have documented a worrying trend across Africa, with Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania either passing or considering similar bills. The Ghanaian legislation, however, drew unusually swift condemnation from the UK Foreign Office, which noted that it “would damage Ghana’s reputation as a beacon of democracy in West Africa.” The European Union and the United States also expressed concerns, with the US threatened to review its assistance under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
The delay has been met with relief from LGBTQ+ rights activists, who reported an increase in attacks and discrimination since the bill’s introduction. “This is a crucial moment for Ghana’s democratic institutions,” said Dr. Akua Sarpong, a legal scholar at the University of Ghana. “The bill violates constitutional protections of privacy and freedom of expression. Its delay shows that diplomacy and logic can still prevail over prejudice.”
Yet the postponement is unlikely to appease critics who accuse the government of playing politics with human rights. The bill has strong support among Ghana’s conservative Christian and Muslim populations, and its passage was seen as a key move to shore up Akufo-Addo’s base ahead of the 2024 elections. Delaying it risks alienating these voters, while passing it would damage Ghana’s international standing. “The government is caught between two incompatible forces,” said political analyst Kwame Asare. “It wants to appease religious leaders at home, but it cannot afford the diplomatic cost abroad.”
The Commonwealth’s influence is not limited to rhetoric. At its biennial summit in Kigali last year, member states agreed to establish a mechanism to monitor compliance with the Charter, including provisions on non-discrimination. While the mechanism is still in its infancy, it gives the Secretariat leverage over nations like Ghana, which rely on Commonwealth networks for trade, education, and technical assistance.
For now, the bill’s fate hangs in the balance. President Akufo-Addo has stated his commitment to “upholding Ghanaian values,” but the delay suggests that diplomatic pressures are reshaping what those values mean in practice. As the world watches, Ghana’s choice will send a signal: whether democracy in Africa can reconcile tradition with the universal rights enshrined in international law.
