Ghana Passes Sweeping Anti-LGBTQ+ Law, Sparking Fear and International Condemnation
*Ghana’s parliament has approved legislation that makes identifying as LGBTQ+ a criminal offense and extends liability to anyone who provides support, services or advocacy to the community. The bill now awaits the signature of President John Dramani Mahama, whom rights groups expect to sign it into law, The Guardian reports. Penalties under the new measure […] The post Ghana Passes Sweeping Anti-LGBTQ+ Law, Sparking Fear and International Condemnation appeared first on EURweb | Black News, Culture, Entertainment & More.
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*Ghana’s parliament has approved legislation that makes identifying as LGBTQ+ a criminal offense and extends liability to anyone who provides support, services or advocacy to the community. The bill now awaits the signature of President John Dramani Mahama, whom rights groups expect to sign it into law, The Guardian reports.
Penalties under the new measure are severe. A person found to be identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer could face three years in prison, while those determined to have promoted or financially supported LGBTQ+ causes risk sentences of up to ten years. The law further obligates citizens to report individuals they suspect of being LGBTQ+, a provision activists describe as an open invitation to harassment and abuse.
Community leaders say the psychological toll is already visible. Leila Lariba, director of One Love Sisters Ghana, said members of the community are reviewing and removing online content out of fear of exposure. “People are panicking and scared. The new bill affects where you are staying; it can get you evicted; it can lead you to lose your job,” she said. “No matter how safe you think you are, you do not know who’s ready to talk.”
Lariba added, “We have advised people to prioritise their safety online and offline. If they have content on their social media pages that could put them at risk, we are encouraging them to remove it. People need to be cautious about what they post because they don’t know how this law could be used against them.”
Although lawmakers included exemptions for doctors and attorneys who serve LGBTQ+ clients, advocates say those carve-outs do little to address the broader chilling effect. Many in the community are expected to avoid medical settings entirely, raising particular concern around access to HIV-related care. Ebenezer Peegah of Rightify Ghana warned the law’s consequences stretch far beyond individual identity.
“This bill is very far-reaching: it criminalises identity; it criminalises services, including the operations of civil society groups and doctors giving care to the LGBTQ community,” he said.
Rightify Ghana is leading a court challenge against the bill, arguing it advanced through its final parliamentary readings without meeting proper procedural requirements. Human Rights Watch has also condemned the measure, stating it places lives in danger while fostering a culture of community surveillance.
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The post Ghana Passes Sweeping Anti-LGBTQ+ Law, Sparking Fear and International Condemnation appeared first on EURweb | Black News, Culture, Entertainment & More.
