The legislative battle over Ghana’s highly controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill is set to resume, with a powerful, bipartisan coalition of 10 MPs announcing its reintroduction as the House resumes sitting today, Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
The move, spearheaded by Sam George (NDC, Ningo-Prampram) and Ntim Fordjour (NPP, Assin South), marks a renewed legislative effort to pass the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021—a piece of legislation that has drawn intense national debate and significant international scrutiny since its first reading.
The original bill was introduced in 2021 and seeks to criminalise LGBTQ+ activities and their promotion, advocacy, and funding.
Specifically, it proposes jail terms of up to three years for engaging in same-sex acts and up to 10 years for promoters and funders of LGBTQ+ activities.
The proposed legislation aims to solidify Ghana’s legal position against LGBTQ+ rights, which its sponsors argue are incompatible with Ghanaian culture and family values.
The reintroduction comes despite sustained pressure from international bodies, including the United Nations and various human rights organizations, who have called the bill a violation of fundamental human rights.
The original legislative effort was halted by injunction suits filed at the Supreme Court earlier this year, challenging the constitutionality of the Bill.
While the Supreme Court is yet to deliver a final ruling on the injunctions, the sponsors are proceeding with the reintroduction to keep the Bill alive in the legislative process.
The decision by 10 MPs to jointly sponsor the reintroduction underscores the significant bipartisan political consensus the bill commands within Ghana’s Parliament, a body often characterised by deep political division.
The reintroduction of the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill is set to dominate parliamentary discourse over the coming weeks, likely leading to heated exchanges and late-night sittings.
The Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs previously held extensive public hearings on the matter, receiving over 150 memoranda from religious bodies, traditional leaders, civil society organisations, and international advocates.
The move is expected to reignite public campaigns both for and against the legislation.
Pro-Bill groups, largely led by faith-based organisations which represent over 70% of Ghana’s population (based on the latest census data), view the Bill as an essential measure to protect Ghanaian values.
Conversely, human rights and activist groups are preparing to intensify their lobby against the Bill, which they deem discriminatory and harmful.
The Speaker of Parliament is expected to refer the reintroduced Bill to the appropriate committee, marking the official start of its second legislative journey.
