World

Ghana lawmakers pass bill criminalizing LGBTQ people, activity

By Moses Mozart Dzawu, Bloomberg News The Tribune Content Agency
People drive their car past the Ghana's Parliament during a welcome ceremony for a U.S. congressional delegation in Accra, on July 31, 2019, as part of a three-day visit to the country to mark the 400 years anniversary since the first slave shipment left the Ghana's coast for United States. (Natalija Gormalova/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)
People drive their car past the Ghana's Parliament during a welcome ceremony for a U.S. congressional delegation in Accra, on July 31, 2019, as part of a three-day visit to the country to mark the 400 years anniversary since the first slave shipment left the Ghana's coast for United States. (Natalija Gormalova/AFP/Getty Images/TNS) Natalija Gormalova/AFP TNS

ACCRA, Ghana - Ghana's parliament passed a Draconian anti-LGBTQ bill Friday, months after it was reintroduced in parliament.

The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill prescribes prison sentences of as much as three years for people who identify as LGBTQ. It compels anyone who knows someone to be gay to report them to authorities, and criminalizes the promotion of LGBTQ activities.

The bill, which faced significant legal friction, was first passed by lawmakers in 2024 but didn't receive presidential assent to become law when a new administration took over last year. It was reintroduced into parliament in February to pave the way for some changes before approval.

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 8:03 PM.

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