GHANA · POLITICS
Key Facts
- What is happening Ghana’s opposition urged President John Mahama on Tuesday, 3 November to sign the anti-gay bill without late changes.
- Why it matters Parliament passed a version with exemptions on 29 May, and the exact final text is still disputed.
- The numbers The bill passed on Friday, 29 May 2026; the Budget is due on 12 November.
- Who is who Alexander Afenyo-Markin leads the opposition in Parliament; President Mahama’s National Democratic Congress governs the country.
- What to watch Whether Parliament votes again on the text, and whether Mahama signs, returns or refers the bill.
- What it means for you Same-sex relations are already a crime in Ghana; visitors and investors should follow the final law.
Ghana’s opposition says the president should sign the anti-gay bill exactly as the governing party once backed it. Parliament resumed on Tuesday, 3 November.
Ghana’s opposition on Tuesday, 3 November urged President John Mahama to sign the anti-gay bill without further amendments. The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025 would punish LGBTQ+ people and groups that promote their cause.
Ghana is a West African democracy of more than 30 million people and a major gold and cocoa exporter. The fight matters to US readers because the final law will shape travel advice, aid talks and risk for firms in Accra.
What the Minority Said
Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, spoke at a Leaders’ Media Briefing before Parliament resumed. The Minority is the opposition bloc led by the New Patriotic Party, which governed Ghana until January 2025.
He said, “We don’t want any late amendments carved out or delayed to water it down.” He also said, “Every member must vote on the actual text.”
On exemptions, he said, “Blanket exemptions are not safeguards, they are a dilution.” He added that any safeguards must be precisely drafted and consistent with the 1992 Constitution.
The Minority argues that the National Democratic Congress backed the bill while in opposition. It says Mahama’s party should now keep the provisions it once supported.
How the Bill Got Here
Eight private members led by Samuel Nartey George introduced the bill in 2021. Parliament passed an earlier version on Wednesday, 28 February 2024, but then-President Nana Akufo-Addo never signed it.
Parliament passed a reintroduced version on Friday, 29 May 2026, after adopting amendments. Those amendments exempt lawyers who represent LGBTQ+ clients, journalists who report on the issue, and medical and counselling professionals.
Speaker Alban Bagbin then called for more engagement between the two leaderships. He said he had expected only a consideration stage that day.
What Mahama and the Government Have Said
On Monday, 1 June, Mahama spoke at Chatham House, a London think tank. He said, “there’s still quite a while to go before that bill becomes law.”
He said the bill must come to him for assent, and the Attorney General and his legal counsel would review it first. He could refer it to the Council of State, an advisory body, or return it to Parliament.
What It Means for You
Same-sex sexual relations are already a crime under Section 104 of Ghana’s Criminal Offences Act. The new bill would add penalties for promoting or funding LGBTQ+ activity, so the final text matters more than the headlines.
Visitors should read the US State Department’s current Ghana travel advice before any trip. Investors and companies with Ghanaian staff should track the final text and any legal challenge.
Related Rio Times reports include Ghana to Follow Uganda on Anti-LGBTQ+ Law Amid Economic Warnings and Ghana Budget Day, 12 November. The explainer is Ghana’s Anti-Gay Bill Explained, and more coverage sits on the Ghana hub.
What Is Not Known
No public record checked shows whether Parliament has formally sent the bill to the Presidency. Reports also differ on whether Parliament will reopen debate on the text this session.
Reports give different prison terms for the offences, so this report does not state one. Mahama has not commented publicly on the Minority’s call, as far as could be found.
What Comes Next
The 2027 Budget is due on Thursday, 12 November. The bill competes with that schedule for floor time.
The Minority’s call does not change the bill’s legal status. Under Article 106 of the Constitution, the president has seven days to respond once the bill is formally presented.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ghana anti-gay bill?
It is the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025. It would add penalties for LGBTQ+ people and for promoting or funding LGBTQ+ activity.
What did Ghana’s opposition say on 3 November?
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin urged President Mahama to sign the bill without late amendments. He said blanket exemptions are a dilution.
Has President Mahama signed the bill?
No public record shows that he has signed it. He said in June that the bill still had a while to go and needed legal review.
Is homosexuality already illegal in Ghana?
Yes, same-sex sexual relations are a crime under Section 104 of the Criminal Offences Act. The new bill would add further offences.
Sources: Parliament of Ghana (sittings and bill records); Report on the Minority briefing, 3 November 2026; Second report on the Minority briefing, 3 November 2026; Report on Mahama at Chatham House, 1 June 2026; Background report on the bill, May 2026; Constitution of Ghana 1992 (rev. 1996), Article 106 (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