Ghana’s parliament is once again playing with fire, reviving a controversial anti-LGBT bill that could land queer individuals and their allies in jail for years. Despite global condemnation, a group of 10 MPs has reintroduced the legislation, which prescribes up to three years in prison for merely identifying as gay and up to a decade for those advocating for LGBTQ rights.
The bill initially passed last year but hit a roadblock when then-President Nana Akufo-Addo refused to sign it, citing legal challenges. With a new administration in power, the law’s fate remains uncertain—but its potential consequences are already raising alarms.
A Step Backward for Human Rights
Human rights organizations have blasted the legislation as “draconian” and a blatant violation of Ghana’s international commitments. “The anti-LGBT rights bill is inconsistent with Ghana’s long-standing tradition of peace, tolerance, and hospitality,” said Human Rights Watch researcher Larissa Kojoué. Activists fear it could encourage violence and state-sanctioned discrimination, pushing Ghana’s LGBTQ community further into the shadows.
Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, a Ghanaian trans woman and activist, called the bill’s return “disheartening and hard to process,” but remained resolute: “LGBT activism in Ghana is not going anywhere.”
The Economic Fallout
Beyond the human rights catastrophe, Ghana is risking billions in international aid. The country’s former finance minister warned that the bill could cost Ghana up to $3.8 billion in World Bank development funds and threaten its $3 billion IMF program. With Ghana’s economy still struggling, the country can hardly afford to alienate foreign investors.
But not everyone seems concerned. Opposition lawmaker John Ntim Fordjour waved off fears of economic consequences, bizarrely citing Donald Trump’s election as proof that conservative values are on the rise. While Trump’s name might still stir up certain circles, it remains to be seen whether investors will stick around if Ghana enacts one of the harshest anti-LGBT laws on the continent.
What’s Next?
For now, it’s unclear whether the new parliament will push the bill forward. President John Mahama has suggested making it a state-sponsored initiative to ensure broader consensus—but a bill rooted in discrimination will never have the backing of Ghana’s LGBTQ community or human rights advocates.
With Ghana’s queer community already facing violence and persecution, this bill would only worsen an already dire situation. The world is watching, and Ghana’s government must decide whether to move forward—or retreat into the dark ages.