The UK Foreign Office has issued a sharp condemnation of Ghana’s proposed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, warning that the bill undermines the core principles of the Commonwealth. The statement, released late Thursday, expresses “profound concern” over the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, which would impose prison sentences of up to 10 years for same-sex relationships and criminalise advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the bill “contradicts the Commonwealth Charter’s commitment to human rights and equality for all.” He added, “The UK stands firmly with LGBTQ+ people in Ghana and around the world. We urge the Ghanaian government to uphold its international obligations and reject this discriminatory legislation.”
The bill, introduced by a bipartisan group of MPs in 2021, has sparked intense debate. Supporters argue it protects traditional values, while critics say it would fuel persecution and violence. Ghana’s LGBTQ+ community already faces widespread discrimination, and activists report a surge in attacks since the bill resurfaced in parliament this month.
This condemnation is not just diplomatic posturing. The UK is Ghana’s second-largest bilateral donor, providing £100 million in aid last year. Development minister Andrew Mitchell hinted at consequences, saying the UK “reviews its aid programmes in line with respect for human rights.” However, he stopped short of threatening cuts.
The move has triggered backlash from Ghanaian lawmakers. Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu accused the UK of “imperialist overreach,” insisting the bill is a “sovereign matter.” He told local media, “We do not need lectures from a country that legalised same-sex marriage in 2014. Our culture is not for sale.”
Human rights groups have welcomed the UK’s stance but want stronger action. “Words alone won’t protect Ghanaians from being jailed,” said Alice Nkom, director of the African LGBTIQ+ Network. “The UK and other donors must make aid conditional on the bill being dropped.”
The bill now awaits a parliamentary vote. President Nana Akufo-Addo has not signalled his position, though his government previously stated it would not interfere with the legislative process. With Ghana’s 2024 elections approaching, the issue threatens to become a political flashpoint.
For the Commonwealth, the row is a test of its commitment to human rights. The organisation has suspended members over human rights abuses, but has never done so for anti-LGBTQ+ laws. A spokesperson said the Commonwealth Secretariat is “monitoring the situation closely.”
The UK Foreign Office’s intervention marks one of the strongest condemnations of its kind. It comes as British ministers face pressure to take a harder line on human rights in the Commonwealth, particularly after similar laws were passed in Uganda and Kenya. Critics say Britain’s diplomatic language has not matched the urgency of the crisis.
For Ghana’s LGBTQ+ community, the UK’s words offer some hope. “We feel less alone,” said Richard Koomson, an activist in Accra. “But we need more than statements. We need the UK to use its leverage to stop this bill becoming law.”
The Foreign Office has not ruled out further measures. A spokesperson said, “We will continue to raise our concerns at the highest levels and consider all options to defend human rights.”
