Parliament has passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, commonly known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, following a tense sitting on Friday, May 29, 2026.
The private members’ bill, which seeks to align Ghana’s legal framework with cultural, religious and traditional beliefs, explicitly prohibits LGBTQ+ activities and criminalises advocacy, promotion and funding related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (or questioning) individuals.
The bill was presented to Parliament on July 24, 2025, by the Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, on behalf of 10 sponsors. It was subsequently referred to the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs for consideration.
Sponsors’ rationale
The sponsors stated that the country was united in support of the bill, which they said seeks to uphold the morality, culture, traditions and customs of Ghanaians. They affirmed that both Ghanaians and the Constitution recognise the family unit as comprising a male and a female joined in marriage who have procreated children.
They further argued that Ghana has come under significant pressure from globalisation and foreign cultures to accept practices inconsistent with Ghanaian family values and sexual norms.
Minority opposition
However, ahead of the passage, the Minority Caucus expressed strong opposition, accusing the Majority of “smuggling” an amendment that was never part of the committee’s considerations. They claimed the amendment created exemptions for certain professionals, individuals and institutions – including doctors, journalists and civil society organisations – whom they described as “the very perpetrators of LGBTQ+ practices”.
The Minority alleged that the Majority had engaged certain foreign countries that dictated the introduction of such exemptions to protect professionals handling those engaged in anti-gay practices.
Majority defends amendments
Responding to the criticisms, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga clarified that the committee’s proposed amendments in clauses 9 and 10 simply elaborated on the constitutional provision that the bill is “subject to the Constitution”.
He explained that the committee determined that lawyers representing persons accused under the Act, media houses reporting on LGBTQ-related matters, academics conducting research, and doctors providing medical care should not be deemed to be promoting LGBTQ practices.
“This bill is not watered down,” Mr Ayariga stated, expressing confidence that any court would have struck down attempts to convict doctors, journalists or lawyers for carrying out their lawful professional duties.
President to assent
Mr Ayariga assured Ghanaians that President John Dramani Mahama will assent to the bill upon his return to the country, as previously promised.
“Unfortunately, the President is out of the jurisdiction and we have not yet printed a copy of the bill for him. But on return to Ghana, I can assure Ghanaians that His Excellency the President will, as promised, assent to this bill and it will come into force,” he said.
Minority decries double standard
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin accused the Majority of unprincipled political conduct, noting that the same NDC MPs who resisted amendments to the bill while in opposition had now amended and diluted it themselves.
“It is not enough to say one thing while in opposition and when you get power, you change your stand,” he said.
Background
Parliament had previously passed the bill unanimously on February 28, 2024, but former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was unable to sign it into law due to legal challenges. The bill lapsed in January 2025 following the dissolution of the Eighth Parliament without receiving presidential assent.
The current bill was reintroduced in the Ninth Parliament by the same sponsors.
