By Issah Olegor
The long-running controversy surrounding the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation has resurfaced in Parliament as a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers, led by Samuel Nartey George of the NDC (Ningo-Prampram) and Rev. John Ntim Fordjour of the NPP (Assin South), reintroduced the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021.
The move comes as Parliament resumes sitting for the final quarter of the year, setting the stage for renewed national debate over one of the most polarizing pieces of legislation in the Fourth Republic.
A Renewed Push After Legal Stalemate
The reintroduction of the bill—first laid before Parliament in August 2021—comes months after legal proceedings stalled its progress.
Earlier last year, the Supreme Court received multiple injunction applications challenging the constitutionality of the proposed law, effectively freezing its advancement.
Although the court has yet to deliver a ruling, the sponsors, now numbering ten MPs, have decided to re-table the bill to ensure it remains active in the legislative process.
Their decision highlights the depth of political support the proposal still commands within Parliament, despite both local and international opposition.
According to parliamentary sources, the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, is expected to refer the bill to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs, where it will undergo another round of review and stakeholder engagement.
A Bill That Divides A Nation
The Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill was first introduced in 2021 by a group of eight MPs, spearheaded by Sam George.
The bill seeks to criminalize same-sex relationships, advocacy, and promotion of LGBTQ+ activities. It prescribes up to three years in prison for individuals found engaging in same-sex acts, and up to ten years for persons or organizations that promote or finance LGBTQ+ causes.
Supporters of the bill argue that it is designed to protect Ghanaian culture, morality, and family values from what they describe as “foreign social ideologies.” They insist that LGBTQ+ lifestyles contradict Ghana’s traditional and religious norms.
However, human rights advocates, civil society groups, and international observers—including the United Nations, Amnesty International, and several Western diplomatic missions—have repeatedly condemned the bill as a violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms guaranteed under Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
Public Hearings
In its initial consideration phase between 2021 and 2023, the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs conducted extensive nationwide consultations.
The process generated over 150 memoranda from a wide range of stakeholders—religious organizations, traditional authorities, legal experts, and international human rights groups.
Faith-based institutions, including the Christian Council of Ghana, Catholic Bishops’ Conference, and Chief Imams’ Office, strongly supported the bill, arguing that it safeguards the moral integrity of the Ghanaian society. Collectively, religious groups—representing over 70% of the population according to the 2021 census—have mounted sustained public campaigns demanding the bill’s swift passage.
Conversely, several civil society organizations, youth groups, and human rights defenders have staged protests and advocacy campaigns warning that the bill, if enacted, would institutionalize discrimination, restrict free speech, and endanger lives.
Groups such as Civic Society Forum on Human Rights (CSFHR) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have argued that the legislation would create a hostile environment for minority groups and hinder the democratic and international standing.
International Pressure And Diplomatic Risks
The reemergence of the bill is expected to strain Ghana’s relations with some international partners.
In 2022 and 2023, several Western countries, including the United States and United Kingdom, issued strong statements cautioning that the bill could impact foreign aid and trade relations.
The European Union Parliament also passed a resolution calling on Ghana to reconsider the legislation, describing it as “inconsistent with international human rights obligations.”
Nevertheless, local lawmakers have remained defiant by maintaining that the country’s sovereignty and cultural integrity take precedence over foreign pressure.
Rev. Ntim Fordjour, a co-lead sponsor, echoed this sentiment, arguing that “protecting family values and the moral fabric of society is non-negotiable.”
The Political Storm
The reintroduction of the bill underscores a rare moment of bipartisan unity in the deeply polarized Parliament.
Both the ruling NPP and NDC appear aligned on the need to advance the legislation, though individual members differ on its scope and implementation.
The bill is expected to dominate parliamentary debates over the coming weeks, with civil society actors, media commentators, and religious leaders preparing to reignite public campaigns on both sides of the issue.
