Ghana’s LGBTQ community is living in fear after the country’s parliament approved a sweeping bill that criminalizes the promotion of LGBTQ+ activities and identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer, rights groups have warned.
The legislation mandates prison sentences of three to 10 years.
Community organizations say LGBTQ+ people are worried they could lose their homes, jobs or access to healthcare, with most already reviewing and deleting their online posts for fear of their identity being revealed.
Same-sex relations were already banned under British colonial law in Ghana, but the prohibition was rarely enforced. The new legislation expands criminal liability and is designed to affect both LGBTQ+ people and their allies, such as anyone who provides services, support or advocacy.
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