In a decisive move that underscores a growing divide on sexual rights, Ghana’s parliament has approved one of Africa’s most restrictive anti-LGBTQ laws.

The Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill imposes up to three years in prison for same-sex relations and three to five years for supporting LGBTQ activities.

The legislation, previously passed in 2024 but left unsigned by former president Nana Akufo-Addo, now awaits ratification by President John Mahama. While human rights groups and international organisations have strongly condemned the bill as a threat to fundamental freedoms, supporters argue it reflects Ghana’s deep cultural and religious values. As one lawmaker put it, “not all countries live under the LGBTQ black magic spell”—a statement capturing the administration’s stance against what it sees as foreign-imposed norms.

The bill has revived a fierce debate between individual rights and national identity, with Ghana aligning itself alongside other conservative African nations resisting Western pressure on LGBTQ issues.