Ghana’s parliament has approved a bill imposing some of the world’s harshest penalties for same-sex relationships, a move that challenges the Commonwealth’s commitment to human rights and threatens the country’s standing with Western donors.
The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, passed on Wednesday, criminalises LGBTQ+ advocacy, membership and funding of gay rights groups. Offenders face between six months and three years in prison, with longer sentences for those who promote same-sex relationships. The bill also outlaws any form of public expression of LGBTQ+ identity, including cross-dressing.
Ghana joins a growing list of African nations, including Uganda and Kenya, that have tightened anti-LGBTQ+ laws in recent years. The move places Accra at odds with the Commonwealth’s stated principles of equality and non-discrimination, which were reaffirmed at the 2022 heads of government meeting in Kigali. It also risks straining ties with the United States and European Union, both of which have linked aid to human rights records.
President Nana Akufo-Addo has not indicated whether he will sign the bill into law. His government has said it will await a Supreme Court ruling on its constitutionality before deciding. Legal experts argue the bill violates Ghana’s constitutional protections of privacy and freedom of expression.
Human Rights Watch condemned the legislation as “a dangerous escalation of state-sponsored discrimination” that would fuel violence against LGBTQ+ people. The bill has broad public support in Ghana, where opinion polls show more than 80% of adults oppose homosexuality.
The bill’s passage comes amid a wider crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights in the Commonwealth. In Uganda, a law signed in May imposes the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality”. In Kenya, courts have upheld colonial-era sodomy laws, and parliament has proposed new restrictions on LGBTQ+ advocacy.
Western governments have signalled concern. The United States said it would review aid programs if the bill becomes law. The European Union warned it could affect trade preferences under the Everything But Arms scheme, which requires respect for human rights.
The bill’s sponsors argue it protects traditional values and shields children from inappropriate content. They say Ghana’s sovereignty includes the right to define its own moral standards.
Analysts note that the bill’s passage underscores the limits of Western influence on cultural issues in Africa. Despite diplomatic pressure, many governments in the region view LGBTQ+ rights as a foreign imposition. The Commonwealth, which includes 21 African member states, has struggled to enforce its human rights commitments without punitive measures.
For Ghana, the economic implications could be significant. The country relies on foreign aid and investment, and has recently sought an IMF bailout. Any reduction in Western support would compound its fiscal challenges. But the government may calculate that domestic political gains outweigh external costs, especially in an election year.
President Akufo-Addo faces a delicate balancing act. Signing the bill would secure his base but alienate international partners. Vetoing it would provoke a backlash among conservative voters. The Supreme Court referral offers a temporary reprieve, but a ruling is months away.
As the Commonwealth prepares for its next summit in Samoa in October, Ghana’s decision will test the organisation’s ability to uphold its values. A rift between Western and African members over LGBTQ+ rights could deepen, further undermining the post-colonial bloc’s unity.
