Advocates and supporters of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, otherwise called the anti-gay bill, on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, took to the streets of Accra to protest perceived undue delay by the Chief Justice to get the bill heard.

Remember that the bill, formally known as the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, has been in the works since 2021 and has garnered significant attention.

The bill seeks to criminalise LGBTQ+ activities and the promotion of LGBTQ+ rights in Ghana.

Join the Newsfile panel as regular host, Samson Lardy Anyenini plays the Inquisitor role.

For the records, this is a chronology of key events related to the bill:

1. Early Discussions and Background

• Pre-2021: Same-sex relationships have long been illegal in Ghana under the Criminal Code of 1960, though enforcement of this law has been inconsistent. Despite this, there has been growing public discourse on LGBTQ+ rights, with increasing visibility of advocacy groups and support for sexual minority rights.
• February 2021: The LGBTQ+ Rights Ghana group opened a community office in Accra, sparking public outcry and protests from religious leaders, traditional authorities, and parts of the general public. This heightened the national debate on LGBTQ+ rights.
• February 24, 2021: Following pressure from the public and officials, the community office was raided by police and subsequently shut down. This marked the beginning of organized efforts against LGBTQ+ advocacy in Ghana.

2. Introduction of the Anti-Gay Bill

• June 29, 2021: The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021 was introduced in Parliament. The bill was spearheaded by eight MPs, including Sam George from the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The bill proposed stringent measures criminalizing LGBTQ+ activities and advocacy, including:
  • Banning any form of support or promotion of LGBTQ+ rights.
  • Imposing jail terms of up to 10 years for identifying as LGBTQ+ or advocating for LGBTQ+ rights.
  • Requiring citizens to report LGBTQ+ activities or face prosecution for failure to do so.
• July 2021: The bill gained immediate national and international attention, with widespread support from religious and traditional leaders in Ghana. However, international human rights organizations, including the United Nations and Amnesty International, criticized the bill as a violation of human rights.

3. Public Reactions and International Response

• July-September 2021: Several religious and cultural groups, notably the National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values, strongly supported the bill, organizing press conferences and public demonstrations. They argued that LGBTQ+ activities were against Ghanaian cultural values and threatened the moral fabric of society.
• October 2021: International bodies, including the European Union, voiced concerns over the bill, warning that it violated international human rights standards. Prominent figures such as Gabrielle Giffords, Desmond Tutu, and other global activists condemned the bill.
• October 6, 2021: The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, declared his strong support for the bill, describing LGBTQ+ rights as "perversions" that must not be allowed in Ghana. He promised a fair debate but also stated that Parliament would not succumb to international pressure.

4. Parliamentary Hearings and Debate

• November 2021: The bill was formally tabled for discussion in Parliament. The debate was heated, with MPs from both major political parties, the NDC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), largely supporting the bill.
• November 2021 - January 2022: Parliament’s Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee began public hearings on the bill. Religious groups, legal scholars, and civil society organizations presented their arguments. The hearings became a focal point of the debate, with clear divisions between advocates for cultural values and proponents of human rights.
• March 2022: President Nana Akufo-Addo broke his silence on the bill, stating that although there was significant public support for the legislation, he would only support a bill that adhered to Ghana’s Constitution and international human rights obligations. This was interpreted as a cautious approach, balancing internal pressures and international concerns.

5. Ongoing Discussions and International Repercussions

• April 2022: As parliamentary discussions on the bill continued, Ghana faced increased international scrutiny. Foreign aid organizations and international partners raised concerns, with some European politicians suggesting that aid could be withheld if the bill passed in its current form.
• May 2022: A coalition of Ghanaian civil society organizations and academics submitted a petition to Parliament opposing the bill. The petitioners argued that the bill violated fundamental human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression, privacy, and association.
• July 2022: In response, pro-LGBTQ+ activists in Ghana, although working under the threat of arrest, launched awareness campaigns both domestically and internationally, calling attention to the human rights implications of the bill.

6. Legislative Delays and Continued Tensions

• 2023: Parliamentary debate on the bill faced delays, in part due to intense lobbying from both supporters and opponents. During this period, the international community continued to express its discontent, with human rights organizations increasing pressure on the Ghanaian government to reject the bill.
• March 2023: The bill remained in committee, with no immediate sign of resolution. However, the public discourse continued to be dominated by religious groups’ call for urgent action.

7. Present Situation

• October 2024: The bill is still under consideration, but it has been a major topic in political campaigns ahead of the December 2024 general elections. Political candidates and parties have used the issue to galvanize support from various religious and cultural groups. Both local and international observers remain closely watching the bill’s progress, as it could have significant ramifications for Ghana’s international relations and its standing on human rights.