Ghana’s proposed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, has drawn a sharp warning from the UK Foreign Office. The Bill, which criminalises same-sex relationships and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, could jeopardise Ghana’s trade relations with the Commonwealth and its access to British markets.
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly made clear in a statement that the Bill “contradicts the Commonwealth’s shared values of tolerance and equality.” He added that London would assess its trade and aid partnerships with Accra should the legislation pass in its current form. The warning comes as Ghana’s parliament considers the Bill, which carries penalties of up to ten years in prison for same-sex acts and up to five years for promoting LGBTQ+ rights.
The diplomatic friction is set against a backdrop of deepening economic ties. Ghana exports roughly £1.1 billion worth of goods to the UK annually, including cocoa, gold, and oil. The UK also channels significant development aid through the Department for International Development, some of which supports human rights programmes. A trade deal signed after Brexit currently grants Ghana preferential access to British markets.
But the stakes go beyond trade. Ghana is a linchpin of the Commonwealth, a 56-nation bloc that includes many African, Caribbean, and Pacific states. The UK has positioned itself as a defender of LGBTQ+ rights within the organisation, a stance that has created friction with several members that maintain anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
Human rights groups have condemned the Bill as a draconian attack on the freedoms of Ghana’s LGBTQ+ community. Amnesty International warned that it would “entrench discrimination and violence” and breach international human rights law. The Bill has strong support among Ghana’s conservative religious and traditional leaders, who argue it upholds “Ghanaian values.”
The Foreign Office’s intervention is significant. It signals that the UK is willing to use its economic leverage to push back against the Bill. However, critics argue that the threat is hollow. The UK has not yet suspended aid to other Commonwealth nations with similar laws, such as Uganda and Nigeria. Furthermore, Ghana’s government is under domestic pressure to act tough on sexuality, with some lawmakers accusing the West of cultural imperialism.
For ordinary Ghanaians, the Bill is a distant debate. But its implications are real. A breakdown in trade ties could hit jobs in cocoa farming and manufacturing, sectors already battered by inflation and currency instability. The cedi has lost nearly 30% of its value against the dollar this year, and the cost of imported goods is rising.
The Bill’s fate lies with Ghana’s parliament and president, Nana Akufo-Addo. He has so far remained non-committal, urging lawmakers to “be guided by the law and not external pressures.” But if the Bill becomes law, Ghana could find itself shut out of key markets and aid programmes, forcing a choice between cultural sovereignty and economic survival.
