Parliament has passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, formally known as the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, after years of intense public debate and international scrutiny.

Commonly referred to as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, the legislation seeks to criminalise LGBTQ+ activities, advocacy, funding, and any promotion of what it describes as non-traditional sexual relations.

Its passage represents one of the most divisive moments in Ghana’s recent legislative history, drawing strong support from religious and traditional authorities while attracting sharp criticism from human rights organisations and sections of the international community.

The bill contains provisions imposing penalties on individuals found guilty of engaging in same-sex relations, as well as sanctions against persons, groups, or organisations deemed to be promoting or supporting LGBTQ+ activities.

Supporters argue that the law is necessary to safeguard Ghana’s cultural, moral, and family values. Various religious groups and traditional leaders consistently backed the legislation throughout parliamentary consideration, maintaining that it reflects the beliefs of the majority of Ghanaians.

However, opponents have raised concerns that the law may infringe on constitutional protections, including freedoms of expression, association, and protection against discrimination.

Debate in Parliament became more intense during discussions on proposed amendments that sought to exempt certain professionals, including journalists, lawyers, medical practitioners, counsellors, and media organisations, when handling LGBTQ-related matters in the course of their duties.

The proposed exemptions were intended to protect professionals reporting on or providing care and counselling services to individuals affected by LGBTQ-related issues.

However, the amendments were strongly opposed by co-sponsor of the bill and Assin South MP Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, alongside Bosome-Freho MP Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh and other Minority MPs, who argued that such provisions could create loopholes that might enable the promotion of LGBTQ+ activities.

The bill was originally introduced in June 2021 by a bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Ningo-Prampram MP Sam George. It passed its first reading in August 2021 before being referred to Parliament’s Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee for detailed scrutiny.

Between 2021 and 2022, the committee held extensive nationwide consultations involving religious leaders, traditional authorities, legal experts, civil society organisations, and human rights advocates.

Those engagements triggered widespread public debate, with supporters insisting the bill was essential to preserve Ghanaian values, while critics maintained it was discriminatory and inconsistent with constitutional rights.