The BBC reports:

The parliament in Ghana has approved a new bill criminalising homosexuality and the promotion of LGBTQ+ activities. It proposes that identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer be punished by up to three years’ imprisonment. The bill also introduces a “duty to report” prohibited acts to police.

Religious leaders have pressured President John Dramani Mahama, who still needs to ratify the legislation, to strengthen anti-gay laws since he came to power last year.

In an address to parliament, the bill’s sponsor Reverend John Ntim Fordjour [photo] said it would protect Ghanaian family and cultural values. Anyone who identifies as an “ally”, a general term for a supporter of LGBTQ+ people, could also face a prison sentence.

Read the full article. 

Ghana first criminalized homosexual acts among men (but not among women) in 1960.

As was reported here at the time, in 2024 Ghana’s parliament approved a similar bill, but then-President Nana Akufo-Addo did not sign it due to legal challenges.

With a population of 34 million, Ghana gained independence from Britain in 1957 and is majority Christian.