Lawmaking is never a straightforward affair, and this reality couldn’t be more evident than in Ghana’s recent legislative tussle. The air is thick with tension as three sponsors of the controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill reveal to Reuters that despite previous setbacks from legal challenges, the bill is making a comeback. The path of legislation resembles a winding road with unexpected turns. What sparked this renewed fervor?
Escalating Measures
As the law stands, those convicted of same-sex sexual acts face a possible sentence of up to three years in prison. The newly proposed legislation seeks to heighten the stakes—raising the maximum penalty to five years. It doesn’t stop there; it introduces unprecedented measures, threatening jail time for anyone found guilty of “willful promotion, sponsorship, or support of LGBTQ+ activities.” One could ask, is this a step towards safeguarding societal values, or does it open the gate to a wave of intolerance?
Political Dance: Parliamentary Approval and Presidential Delay
February 2024 saw Ghana’s parliament approve the legislation. Yet, it met an unexpected halt with the changeover to President John Dramani Mahama, as former President Nana Akufo-Addo left the ink dry without a signature in January 2025. Ghanaian law mandates the president’s signature for any parliamentary decision to become enforceable law. The poignant image of a pen hovering over a piece of history, yet not committing, captures the essence of political hesitation.
Fast forward to February 25, 2025, the same bill gets a fresh breath in parliament, carried by a new team of tenacious lawmakers including ruling party members Samuel Nartey George and Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, with opposition figures like John Ntim Fordjour. Behind each legislator lies a realm of personal beliefs and public pressures—how do they maneuver through it all?
Stiff Consequences: Stricter Penalties for LGBTQ+ Individuals and Advocates
In its revised form, the bill paints an even grimmer picture for those it targets. Enhanced penalties include:
- Up to three years imprisonment for individuals identifying as LGBTQ+.
- Five to ten years in jail for those promoting LGBTQ+ rights.
Advocates of the law argue it’s a protective shield for children and supposed victims of abuse. Yet, one cannot ignore critics who label it as an alarming amplification of discrimination. The debate isn’t just about penalties but about fundamental human rights—how does one balance tradition with progression?
International Ripples of Disapproval
The proposed bill has drawn sharp rebukes from all corners of the globe. Described by the United Nations as “profoundly disturbing,” and others as downright draconian, one can’t help but wonder: how will this impact Ghana’s legacy as one of Africa’s more progressive nations in terms of human rights?
Only last year, global outcry roared against the bill, dampening Ghana’s democratic reputation. It’s a lesson in how domestic policies can ripple outwards—they don’t merely stay bound by geographical borders.
Economic Implications: Risk and Ruin
Beyond human rights alarm bells, credible economic concerns emerge. Ghana’s Ministry of Finance sounded the economic alarm in 2024, forewarning of severe financial fallout. Risking a whopping $3.8 billion in World Bank funding and jeopardizing a $3 billion IMF bailout—how could Ghana navigate the precipice of financial vulnerability?
Uganda’s bitter pill in 2023 from similar anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, when the World Bank suspended new funding, serves as a cautionary tale. Countries are often left weighing moral laws against material losses.
Political Undercurrents: Tensions Over the Bill
President Mahama’s actual allegiance to the bill remains a puzzle. While he’s voiced intentions to pass it, he insists its revival should be a governmental move, rather than a parliamentary one. However, figures like opposition MP John Ntim Fordjour argue for legislative autonomy, challenging executive influence over parliamentary independence—a dance of power and democracy.
“He must be reminded that parliament is an independent institution and that the executive cannot dictate to parliament what it must do,” Fordjour articulates pointedly to the Associated Press (AP).
The Road Ahead: What Lies Next?
With its reintroduction, the bill embarks yet again on its legislative journey. Should parliament pass the proposal, it arrives on President Mahama’s desk, waiting to cross the final threshold. Yet with legal, economic, and human rights scrutiny looming large, this will likely stir heightened domestic and international oversight. The coming months may very well script a defining chapter in Ghana’s political and cultural narrative.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring.
