On January 31 2021, an LGBTQ+ advocacy resource center in Accra, Ghana opened. Delegates from the European Union and the Danish Ambassador to Ghana attended to show their support. This was a major step for acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community in Ghana because of the historically massive homophobia presented to the community. In fact, citizens have equated the LGBTQ+ community to cancer and being "Un-African," so this introduction was a major leap for equality. However, these advocates would have never expected the opening of this center to be the spark of a proposed bill to criminalize the LGBTQ+ community more than they already are in Ghana.
In June 2021, Ghana’s Parliament proposed a Bill entitled “The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021.” This Bill not only called for this resource center to be shut down, but also called for LGBTQ+ “activities” to be punished since they are not in accord “with the sociocultural values of any ethnic group in Ghana.”
Currently, being LGBTQ+ in Ghana is punishable up to 3 years in prison. Additionally, there is a lot of opposition to the LGBTQ+ community. In fact, in 2013, when citizens of Ghana were asked “should society accept homosexuality?” 96% said that society should not, which was ranked #36 out of the 39 countries surveyed, as seen by the image below.
There are no protections for the LGBTQ+ community in Ghana. In fact, it is often encouraged in the media and religious and political leaders for citizens to incite physical and violent homophobic attacks against them.
As if this isn’t enough, the proposed Bill causes not only members of the LGBTQ+ community, but also advocates, to be punished up to 10 years in prison. Some of the main points of the Bill are:
Advocating for their rights through speech, printed material, or other means could result in a prison sentence up to a decade.
Same-sex marriage could lead to a prison sentence of between 1-3 years.
Same-sex adoption is prohibited due to the fact that same-sex couples will “groom” the children.
There is a ban on gender-affirming surgery, unless it is to “correct” intersex individuals.
Gross indecency, including cross-dressing and public displays of same-sex affection, will result in a jail sentence between 6 months to a year.
Someone who undermines the “proper” sexual rights and Ghanian family values is confined to a fine of 2,000 penalty units or a prison sentence between 2-4 months
Journalists cannot produce content seen to be sympathetic to the LGBTQ+ community and advocate against conversion therapy otherwise they will receive a prison sentence between 5-10 years.
The full Bill can be found here.
Although a vote has yet to be scheduled on the Bill, there is wide support among Anglican bishops and parliamentarians, especially from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s New Patriotic Party. But there is a major pushback by the LGBTQ+ community and advocates. Activist groups in Ghana have stated that this Bill is a setback for human rights and have called on Akufo-Addo to reject it. Additionally, they have taken to social media to raise public awareness of the bill’s dangers. They have organized demonstrations in major cities and online, calling for legal protections for the LGBT community in Ghana, by using hashtags #killthehatebill and #QueerGhanaianLivesMatter. Website found here.
Image source: https://www.africanews.com/2021/10/29/ghana-s-law-curbing-lgbt-rights-sparks-anglican-church-rift/
Will Ghana pass this Bill and set back rights for the LGBTQ+ community even further, or will advocates be able to push for dismissal?
References
Avery, D. (2021). Ghana poised to vote on ‘worst anti-LGBTQ bill ever,’ advocates warn. Retrieved 6 February 2022, from https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/ghana-poised-vote-worst-anti-lgbtq-bill-ever-advocates-warn-rcna1545
Cabinet Memorandum. (2021). Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill: Memorandum.
Ghana's law curbing LGBT rights sparks Anglican church rift | Africanews. (2021). Retrieved 5 February 2022, from https://www.africanews.com/2021/10/29/ghana-s-law-curbing-lgbt-rights-sparks-anglican-church-rift/
Gyamerah, A., & Hutchful, A. (2022). Ghana's Proposed Hate Bill Threatens Safety, Livelihood, and the Health of LGBTQI+ People | Think Global Health. Retrieved 6 February 2022, from https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/ghanas-proposed-hate-bill-threatens-safety-livelihood-and-health-lgbtqi-people
Gyasi-Gyamerah, A., Amissah, C., & Danquah, S. (2019). Changing Attitudes toward Homosexuality in Ghana: The Power of Attributional Discourse. SAGE Open, 9(2), 215824401985671. doi: 10.1177/2158244019856712
Ibukun, Y. (2021). Ghana’s Anti-LGBTQ Bill Risks Hurting Its Democratic Credentials. Retrieved 5 February 2022, from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-02/ghana-s-anti-lgbtq-bill-risks-hurting-its-democratic-credentials
"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2013) | Surveys | Equaldex. (2013). Retrieved 5 February 2022, from https://www.equaldex.com/surveys/pew-global-attitudes-on-homosexuality-2013
Unknown (2021). Supporters and opponents face off over Ghana's anti-LGBT law. Retrieved 6 February 2022, from https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ghana-parliament-begins-public-hearings-anti-lgbt-law-2021-11-11/
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