Ghana’s parliament approved a controversial bill that intensifies restrictions on LGBTQ rights and those advocating for non-conventional sexual or gender identities.

The legislation imposes harsh penalties, with gay sex already punishable by up to three years in prison.

The new bill extends the maximum sentence to five years for the “wilful promotion, sponsorship, or support of LGBTQ+ activities.”

The bill, considered one of the strictest in Africa, requires presidential assent to become law. President Nana Akufo-Addo has not confirmed if he will sign it, leaving the bill’s fate uncertain.

Sponsored by a coalition of Christian, Muslim, and traditional Ghanaian leaders, the legislation faced months of debate and criticism.

The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values bill has sparked concerns about human rights violations and has been met with opposition both locally and internationally.

Under the new law, advocating for LGBTQ rights and distributing materials supporting such rights would also become illegal.

The bill heightens existing anti-LGBTQ sentiments in Ghana, where homosexuality is already prohibited and punishable by imprisonment.

Human rights groups and activists, including The Big 18 & Human Rights Coalition, have criticized the bill, claiming it “criminalizes a person’s identity and strips away fundamental human rights.” They urge President Akufo-Addo to reject it.

Takyiwaa Manuh, a senior fellow at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development, expressed disappointment, stating, “This bill represents a real danger to our country, and we are looking to the president to uphold the values of our country and constitution.”

She added that civil society organizations are prepared to file legal challenges against the bill.

As the debate intensified, attacks on the LGBTQ community in Ghana surged, with reports of assaults, expulsions from schools, robberies, and extortion attempts.

The United Nations warned in 2021 that the proposed law could lead to state-sponsored discrimination and violence against the LGBTQ community in Ghana.

Similarly, Uganda, known for extreme anti-LGBTQ legislation, is currently awaiting a ruling on a law that threatens life imprisonment and death for homosexuality.