The Majority Leader in Ghana's Parliament, James Agalga, has promised to ensure a "corrected" version of the country's Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill is presented to President John Mahama before the end of the year. The bill, officially named the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, was passed in May 2026, after a previous version was allowed to lapse.
The passage of the bill was met with condemnation from human rights groups for its discriminatory provisions and criticism over procedural errors in its rushed adoption. This led to a parliamentary review and delays in it being taken further. Agalga confirmed that an amended version will be sent to President Mahama in November, before Parliament goes into recess.
The Majority Leader acknowledged that delays in the legislative process were due to errors included in the bill, such as incorrect computation of penalty units. To address these concerns, Parliament needs to correct the mistakes and rescind the third reading of the bill when it was adopted in May. Lawmakers will then vote again on the adjusted version.
Agalga indicated that any corrections to the proposed law would not be significant, stating that "not much of substance would change." The bill seeks to criminalise simply identifying as LGBTQ+ or as an ally, and targets same-sex intimacy and gender-affirming medical services, with penalties of up to three years in prison and fines.
The dissemination or publication of materials that advocate for the equality or affirmation of LGBTQ+ people would carry prison sentences of up to five years. The bill would also disband organisations that support LGBTQ+ rights, and has been described as one of the harshest pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation on the continent.
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, a vocal proponent of the Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, earlier threatened to publicly identify any MPs who delay the renewed passage of the bill. The bill's passage has sparked controversy and debate, with human rights groups and others expressing concerns about its implications.
The corrected bill will be sent to President Mahama for his assent, marking a significant development in the country's efforts to enact anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. The President's decision on the bill remains to be seen, as does the impact it will have on Ghana's LGBTQ+ community and human rights landscape.
Key points
- The Ghanaian Parliament will correct errors in the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill and rescind its third reading before voting on the adjusted version.
- The bill seeks to criminalise identifying as LGBTQ+ or as an ally, and targets same-sex intimacy and gender-affirming medical services.
- The Speaker of Parliament has threatened to publicly identify MPs who delay the renewed passage of the bill.
