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LGBT rights in Ghana
Ghana
Status
Male illegal since 1892 (as Gold Coast)[1]
Female illegal since 2024
Penalty
Up to 3 years in prison
Gender identity
No
Military
No
Discrimination protections
No
Family rights
Recognition of relationships
No recognition of same-sex unions
Adoption
No
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Ghana face severe challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents.[2] Sexual acts between males have been illegal as "unnatural carnal knowledge" in Ghana since the colonial era. The majority of Ghana's population hold anti-LGBT sentiments.[3][2] Physical and violent homophobic attacks against LGBT people are common, and are often encouraged by the media and religious and political leaders.[4] At times, government officials, such as police, engage in such acts of violence.[5] Reports of young gay people being disowned by their families and communities and evicted from their homes are common. Families often seek conversion therapy from religious groups when same-sex orientation or non-conforming gender identity is disclosed; such "therapy" is reported to be commonly administered in abusive and inhumane settings.[6][5][7]
Despite the constitution guaranteeing a right to freedom of speech, expression and assembly to Ghanaian citizens, these fundamental rights are actively denied to LGBT people.[8] Pro-LGBT activism exists in Ghana, but such efforts are often thwarted by the Ghanaian government.[9] Despite this, by 2016 attitudes in Ghana towards homosexuality were evolving and becoming more tolerant and accepting of LGBT rights. This situation deteriorated sharply in 2021.
In February 2024, Ghana's parliament passed a bill (with the support of the country's two major political parties) to make it a crime to identify as LGBT+, with penalties of up to three years in prison. Funding or forming a LGBT-related group would be punished by up to five years in prison. The bill was forwarded to president Nana Akufo-Addo, who may now sign into law or veto it. Akufo-Addo previously said that if most Ghanians wanted the legislation, he would not oppose it.[10]
^Cite error: The named reference illegal was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ab"Ghana". Human Dignity Trust. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
^Cite error: The named reference good neigh was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Statement on Visit to Ghana, by Professor Philip Alston, United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights". www.ohchr.org. Archived from the original on 14 May 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
^ abCite error: The named reference no choice was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference star was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Acquah, Francis; Botchwey, Charles Owusu-Aduomi; Adoma, Prince Owusu; Kumah, Emmanuel (7 July 2023). "Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and its legalisation in Africa: Insights from tertiary-level students in Ghana". PLOS ONE. 18 (7): e0287726. Bibcode:2023PLoSO..1887726A. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0287726. PMC 10328334. PMID 37418361.
^Human Rights Violations Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) People in Ghana: A Shadow Report(PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2017, retrieved 28 November 2017
^Cite error: The named reference bbc 2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Ghana passes bill making identifying as LGBTQ+ illegal". 28 February 2024. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
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