Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo has paused the signing of a controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill that would impose some of the world’s harshest penalties on same-sex relations, including up to three years in prison for identifying as LGBTQ+. The move, announced late Tuesday, comes amid intense diplomatic pressure from Western allies, particularly the United Kingdom, which has threatened to recalibrate its trade relationship with the West African nation if the bill becomes law.
The so-called ‘Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill’, passed by parliament in February, outlaws LGBTQ+ advocacy, organising, and even the mere identification as gay, lesbian, or transgender. It also criminalises the provision of health or social services to LGBTQ+ individuals. Human rights groups have condemned the bill as a draconian assault on fundamental freedoms, while Ghanaian religious and traditional leaders largely support it.
President Akufo-Addo stated that he would not sign the bill until the Supreme Court rules on its constitutionality, a process that could take months. “The government will allow the legal process to take its course,” he said in a televised address. The delay is seen as a calculated gamble: placating domestic conservative voters while avoiding a full rupture with international partners.
For the UK, the bill represents a pivotal test of its post-Brexit trade strategy. Ghana is a key Commonwealth partner and a major recipient of British aid and investment, particularly in the extractive industries and fintech. Trade between the two nations was valued at £1.6 billion in 2023. The UK government has previously wielded its ‘Global Britain’ brand to push for LGBTQ+ rights as a condition for trade deals, though critics argue this leverage is inconsistently applied.
“The UK’s position is clear,” a Foreign Office spokesperson told the Guardian. “We oppose this bill and will use all tools available to protect human rights, including our trade relationship.” The UK has already suspended some aid to Uganda over its own anti-LGBTQ+ law, and Ghanaian officials fear similar measures. Yet the calculus is complex: Ghana’s government is wary of losing UK investment in its burgeoning tech sector, while UK firms are equally cautious about alienating a stable democratic partner in a volatile region.
The bill’s stagnation also raises questions about digital sovereignty. Ghana’s growing tech hub, Accra, is a favourite of Silicon Valley expats and venture capitalists. Many have voiced alarm that the law could endanger data privacy and encryption, as it mandates surveillance of ‘un-Ghanaian’ sexual content online. Julian Vane, a tech ethicist formerly based in Accra, warns: “This bill isn’t just about human rights—it’s about the future of Ghana’s digital economy. International tech firms will think twice about investing in a country that criminalises parts of its own population. The UK, with its new digital trade agenda, should make that clear.”
The UK-Ghana trade deal is up for renegotiation in 2026, but the current impasse may accelerate talks. Some analysts suggest the UK could insert a binding human rights clause, akin to those in EU trade agreements, but this would require political will at a time when the Conservative government is under pressure to prioritise economic growth over values.
The bill’s supporters, meanwhile, accuse the UK of neo-colonial meddling. Samuel Awuah, a Ghanaian MP who co-sponsored the bill, said: “We will not be bullied by former colonial masters. Our sovereignty and cultural values are non-negotiable.” This rhetoric has resonance in a country where distrust of Western moral imperialism remains strong.
As the Supreme Court deliberates, the UK faces a delicate balancing act: how to uphold human rights without jeopardising a lucrative and strategic alliance. The outcome will set a precedent for how Britain flexes its post-Brexit soft power in the Commonwealth, where several nations are eyeing similar anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. For now, Ghana holds its breath, and the world watches a digital-age test of values versus trade.
