The UK government has condemned Ghana’s proposed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, with ministers calling it a “breach of human rights”. The bill, which would criminalise same-sex relationships and even advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, has sparked a familiar standoff: western liberal values versus traditional African social mores. But what does this mean for the people on the streets of Accra or the diaspora in London?
For many Ghanaians, the bill reflects deeply held religious and cultural beliefs. Yet for others, it threatens to criminalise not just acts but identities, turning a blind eye to the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ citizens who already navigate a precarious existence. The UK’s condemnation is predictable enough, but the real story is the human cost.
In Ghana, a country where homosexuality is already illegal under colonial-era laws, this new bill could further isolate a vulnerable community. Meanwhile, the diplomatic row exposes a broader cultural shift: the west’s insistence on universal human rights clashing with local sovereignty. It is a delicate dance, one that will play out in the shadows of parliament and the quiet corners of Ghanaian society.
