State-sponsored homophobia in Ghana is reaching alarming new levels. Same-sex relationships are already punishable by up to three years in prison, but a proposed law aims to increase the sentence to five years. Even more concerning, any form of “promotion, sponsorship, or support” for LGBTQ+ activities could also lead to criminal prosecution. If passed, Ghana will enforce one of the most repressive anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Africa.
The bill was initially approved by Ghana’s parliament in February 2024, but former President Nana Akufo-Addo left office without signing it. Now, ten lawmakers have reintroduced it, reigniting fear among the country’s queer community.
Ghanaian trans woman and LGBTQ+ activist Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi describes the bill’s return as “heartbreaking and unbearable.” She warns that this law could be weaponized against activists, journalists, and anyone offering support to queer individuals. Yet, she remains resolute: the fight for LGBTQ+ rights will not stop.
Ghana’s own Ministry of Finance has raised red flags about the economic fallout this law could trigger. At stake? $3.8 billion in World Bank funding and a $3 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund, both of which could be jeopardized if the country continues down this path. Still, supporters of the bill argue that it upholds Ghana’s “cultural and religious values” and insist that foreign institutions should not interfere with national legislation.
Meanwhile, LGBTQ+ Ghanaians are left to wonder: how much longer will their very existence be treated as a crime?
This article was inspired by a story originally published on WINQ magazine, a leading platform highlighting LGBTQIA+ experiences and perspectives in The Netherlands.
You may also like
-
Bad Bunny Makes Grammys History — and Turns the Stage Into a Political Movement
It was a night that rewrote the rules of pop culture — in Spanish. At
-
Bright Brussels Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary
Bright Brussels Festival is already celebrating its 10th edition, confirming its status as one of
-
Love Wins at FC Köln: Referee Proposes to His Partner on the Pitch
German referee Pascal Kaiser turned a regular football match in Cologne into a moment of
-
UP Festival: “BELLO!” – When Beauty Meets Acrobatic Irony
What is beauty—and who decides what qualifies? That’s the central question tackled by Fabbrica C, the
-
The New KET Is Out: Queer Brussels Keeps Moving
KET Magazine Issue 11 is out now and available in LGBTQIA+ safe spaces across Brussels,
English 
French 
Dutch