Ghana’s parliament made headlines on Wednesday by unanimously passing the contentious Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Act, a move that has triggered widespread international condemnation.
Sam George, a key proponent of the bill, took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce the milestone, stating, “After three long years, we have finally passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Act.”
Introduced in 2021, the bill not only criminalizes LGBTQ relationships but also targets individuals supporting LGBTQ rights, raising concerns both locally and globally.
While numerous African countries still uphold colonial-era laws criminalizing same-sex activity, recent bills and proposed legislation across the continent aim to clarify and, in some instances, strengthen these prohibitions.
A CNN investigation recently suggested potential links between a U.S. nonprofit and the formulation of homophobic laws, a claim vehemently denied by the organization.
Despite passing in parliament, the bill requires the approval of Ghana’s president to become law. United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Türk expressed deep concern, urging the government not to sign the bill into law.
Türk emphasized, “The bill broadens the scope of criminal sanctions against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transexual, and queer people—simply for being who they are—and threatens criminal penalties against perceived allies of LGBTQ+ people.”
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima warned of broader consequences, stating that if the bill becomes law, it will impact everyone and hinder the country’s fight against HIV and AIDS.
Byanyima stressed the importance of inclusive approaches in Ghana’s HIV response, cautioning that the bill, if enacted, would negatively impact free speech, freedom of movement, and freedom of association. She added, “Punitive laws like this bill are a barrier to ending AIDS, and ultimately undermine everyone’s health.”
