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Ghana’s parliament passes a bill criminalizing the promotion of LGBTQ activities
The measure adds prison terms for advocacy and support, deepening criticism from rights groups that say it threatens free expression and equality.
On Friday, Ghana passed a bill imposing prison terms of up to 10 years for promoting LGBTQ activities, reviving efforts to criminalize advocacy and support in the West African country.
Before this bill, Ghana criminalized same-sex sexual relations under Section 104 of the Criminal Offences Act, though an earlier version passed in 2024 but was never signed by President Nana Akufo-Addo.
The legislation mandates three years of prison for engaging in same-sex acts and five years for operating a brothel, while banning "promoting, sponsoring or advocating" LGBTQ activities.
President John Dramani Mahama is expected to sign the bill into law, despite Finance Ministry warnings that enactment could jeopardize billions of dollars in international financing.
While Human Rights Watch condemned the bill for violating constitutional rights, such measures enjoy popular support in many conservative African countries, where more than 30 of the 54 countries in Africa criminalize same-sex acts.