On Friday, 29 May 2026, Ghana’s Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, widely referred to as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, after renewed debate and committee consideration. The bill had been reintroduced after an earlier version passed in 2024. The new bill criminalises same-sex sexual acts and also targets the promotion, sponsorship, funding, or advocacy of LGBTQ+ – related activities. It also generated controversy in Parliament over proposed exemptions for certain professional activities, including those of journalists, medical personnel and service providers.
The passage of the bill has attracted strong national and international attention because it goes beyond existing criminal provisions and extends into areas of expression, association and support. Supporters presented it as a defence of Ghanaian cultural and family values, while critics argued that it could heighten stigma, restrict civic freedoms and expose affected persons and advocacy groups to greater legal and social risk.