Ghana passes bill that makes identifying as LGBTQ+ illegal

Ghana’s parliament passed a bill on Wednesday that imposes a prison sentence of up to 3 years for anyone convicted of identifying as LGBTQ+.

It also imposes a maximum 5 year jail term for forming or funding LGBTQ+ groups. It would punish the promotion of rights of those who are lesbian, gay or other non-conventional sexual or gender identities.

The BBC reports that a coalition of Christian, Muslim and Ghanaian traditional leaders sponsored the legislation, which is favoured by most lawmakers.

At the time, the Christian Council of Ghana, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council said in a joint statement that being LGBTQ+ was “alien to the Ghanaian culture and family value system and as such, the citizens cannot accept it”

The bill, which had the backing of Ghana’s two major political parties, will come into effect only if President Nana Akufo-Addo signs it into law. He previously asserted that he would do so if the majority of Ghanaians want him to