GHANA · EXPLAINER
Key Facts
- What is happening Ghana’s Parliament has passed an anti-gay bill, and on 3 November the opposition urged the president to sign it.
- Why it matters The bill would punish LGBTQ+ people and promotion of LGBTQ+ activity, and has split the two main parties.
- The numbers Parliament passed it on 29 May 2026; the constitution gives the president seven days after formal presentation to respond.
- Who is who President John Mahama’s National Democratic Congress governs; Alexander Afenyo-Markin leads the opposition New Patriotic Party in Parliament.
- What to watch Whether the bill is formally sent to Mahama, and whether he signs, refuses or refers it.
- What it means for you Visitors should read official travel advice; investors should watch for lender and trade reactions.
This guide explains Ghana’s anti-gay bill in plain English. It covers what the bill is, where it stands and why politicians disagree.
Ghana’s Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025 on 29 May 2026, but it is not law yet. On Tuesday, 3 November, the opposition Minority urged President John Mahama to sign it without changes.
US readers should care because laws like this can affect travel safety, lender decisions and business risk. Ghana is a West African democracy of more than 30 million people and a major gold and cocoa exporter.
The Bill in Plain English
- The bill: a law proposed by private members, not by the government, to punish LGBTQ+ people and the promotion of LGBTQ+ activity.
- The Minority: the opposition bloc in Parliament, led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin of the New Patriotic Party.
- The NDC: the National Democratic Congress, President Mahama’s governing party since January 2025.
- Assent: the president’s signature, without which a bill does not become law.
- Council of State: an advisory body the president can ask for comment on a bill.
Same-sex sexual relations are already a crime in Ghana under Section 104 of the Criminal Offences Act. The new bill goes further by targeting advocacy, promotion and funding.
Reports differ on the prison terms, so this guide does not give a number. The text as passed has not been checked line by line here.
Key Dates
- 2021: eight private members, led by Samuel Nartey George, introduce the bill.
- Wednesday, 28 February 2024: Parliament passes an earlier version.
- January 2025: then-President Nana Akufo-Addo leaves office without signing it.
- Friday, 29 May 2026: Parliament passes a reintroduced version with amendments.
- Monday, 1 June 2026: Mahama says there is “quite a while to go” before it becomes law.
- Tuesday, 3 November 2026: Parliament resumes and the Minority presses Mahama to sign.
Why the Parties Disagree
The fight is over the amendments added in May. They exempt lawyers who represent LGBTQ+ clients, journalists who report on the issue, and medical and counselling professionals.
The Majority, led by the governing party, says the exemptions protect routine professional work. The Minority says they dilute the bill and wants the 2024 text, with Afenyo-Markin calling blanket exemptions “a dilution”.
The Minority also says the NDC backed the earlier bill while in opposition. The governing party has not been quoted answering that charge in the reports checked.
How a Bill Becomes Law in Ghana
Under Article 106 of the Constitution, the president has seven days after formal presentation to tell the Speaker he assents or refuses. After a refusal he has 14 days to list provisions for reconsideration or refer the bill to the Council of State.
Parliament must then reconsider the bill. If two-thirds of all members back it again, the president must assent within 30 days, and the law takes effect once published.
Mahama said on 1 June that the Attorney General and his legal counsel would review the bill first. Speaker Alban Bagbin said he had expected only a consideration stage on 29 May, so the route to presentation is not settled.
What It Means for You
Travellers should read the US State Department’s current Ghana advice and local law before any trip. LGBTQ+ visitors face existing criminal law now, whatever happens to the new bill.
In August 2023 the World Bank said no new public financing for Uganda would go to its board, citing Uganda’s anti-homosexuality law. No such step against Ghana has been announced, as far as could be found.
For context on Ghana and the US, see Ghana and the United States Diaspora Explained and Ghana Budget Day, 12 November. The latest news is in Ghana Opposition Wants Anti-Gay Bill Signed, and more coverage sits on the Ghana hub.
What Is Not Known
No public record checked shows whether the bill has been formally presented to Mahama. It is also unclear whether Parliament will reopen debate on the text this session.
The final penalties and the exact wording of the exemptions need the passed text. Mahama has not publicly answered the Minority’s call, as far as could be found.
What Comes Next
The 2027 Budget is due on Thursday, 12 November. Any step on the bill has to fit around that.
A presidential decision, a return to Parliament or a court challenge would each change the picture. Until then the bill is passed but not law.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ghana’s anti-gay bill?
It is the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025. It would punish LGBTQ+ people and the promotion or funding of LGBTQ+ activity.
Is the bill already law in Ghana?
It is not yet law. Parliament passed it on 29 May 2026, but a bill becomes law only after presidential assent and publication.
Why do the Minority and the governing party disagree?
They disagree over May amendments that exempt lawyers, journalists and medical staff. The Minority says the changes dilute the bill.
Does this affect US visitors to Ghana?
Same-sex relations are already a crime in Ghana. Visitors should read the US State Department’s current Ghana travel advice before any trip.
Sources: Constitution of Ghana 1992 (rev. 1996), Article 106; World Bank Group, statement on Uganda, 8 August 2023; Parliament of Ghana; Report on the Minority briefing, 3 November 2026; Second report on the Minority briefing, 3 November 2026; Report on the Minority and the amendments, 1 June 2026; Report on Mahama and the bill, 1 June 2026; Background report on the bill, May 2026 (all accessed 3 November 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief