Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) people in Ghana face significant challenges not experienced by non-LGBTQ residents. 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-LGBTQ sentiments. Physical and violent homophobic attacks against LGBTQ people occur, and are often encouraged by the media and religious and political leaders. At times, government officials, such as police, engage in such acts of violence. Young gay people are known to be disowned by their families and communities and evicted from their homes. 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.
Despite the constitution guaranteeing a right to freedom of speech, expression and assembly to Ghanaian citizens, these fundamental rights are actively denied to LGBTQ people. Pro-LGBTQ activism exists in Ghana, but such efforts are often thwarted by the Ghanaian government. Despite this, by 2016 attitudes in Ghana towards homosexuality were evolving and becoming more tolerant and accepting of LGBTQ rights. This situation deteriorated sharply in 2021.
In February 2024, with the support of the country's two major political parties, the Parliament of Ghana unanimously passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill to criminalize identifying as LGBTQ in Ghana, with penalties of up to three years in prison. Funding or forming a LGBTQ-related group would be punished by up to five years in prison. The bill was forwarded to president Nana Akufo-Addo, who had said that if most Ghanaians wanted the legislation, he would not oppose it. However, he delayed signing it as two legal challenges were taken up by the Supreme Court. In December, the Supreme Court rejected both cases.
History Before colonialism came into Ghanaian society, issues around gender and sexuality were regarded as more complex than what is considered today. Many gender roles and relationships that existed were found deep in bed with local customs, traditions and interactions.Agyapong, B. (2023). The Complex Landscape of LGBTQ+ Inclusion Within the Politics of Africa and the Dynamics of Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws and Development. For example, in the 18th and 19th century, Asante courts, male slaves served as concubines.
The Nzema people had a tradition of adult men marrying each other, usually with a 10-year age difference. These marriage were called , "friendship marriages". The couple would observe all the social equivalents of heterosexual marriage, a bride price was paid and a traditional wedding ceremony was held. Among the Nankani, female marriages were observed for the continuous perpetuation of the lineage. Rose Mary Amenga-Etego states that these non-sexual woman-to-woman marriages were "the last desperate religion-cultural practice employed to reclaim and reinstate the male genealogical descent structure of the people".
The Fante people would believe that those, of either sex, with "heavy souls" were attracted to women, whereas those with "light souls" were attracted to men.
Homosexuality in Ghana was criminalized in 1892. During this time, Ghana was a British colony. The Offences Against the Person Act 1861, a British law that criminalized sodomy, was implemented in all British colonies.Atuguba, R. A. (2019). Homosexuality in Ghana: Morality, law, human rights. J. Pol. & L., 12, 113.
Legal status Section 104(1)(b) of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960 criminalizes "unnatural carnal knowledge" with the consent of adults, classifying it as a misdemeanor. Section 104(2) further defines "unnatural carnal knowledge" as "sexual intercourse with a person in an unnatural manner or with an animal." Based on the interpretation provided by Section 99, which defines penetration, "unnatural manner" has historically been understood to refer primarily to anal intercourse between men, although the law's wording has allowed for broader interpretation, including oral sex between persons of any gender. Misdemeanors in Ghana are punishable by a maximum of three years' imprisonment under Article 296(4) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Although prosecutions under these sections have become relatively rare in the 21st century (Human Rights Watch, 2018), the law continues to serve as a basis for systemic discrimination, harassment, and abuse against LGBTQ+ individuals. Even in the absence of formal convictions, police forces have utilized the existence of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation to justify arbitrary arrests, detention without trial, and intimidation. Reports of police raids on private gatherings, extortion of LGBTQ+ individuals, and denial of legal protection when victims report crimes have been widely documented .
The broader social environment in Ghana remains deeply hostile to LGBTQ+ individuals, influenced by prevailing cultural, religious, and traditional norms that view homosexuality as immoral or "un-African." Public officials and religious leaders frequently make statements reinforcing stigma. A 2020 Afrobarometer survey found that over 90% of Ghanaians expressed negative views towards homosexuals, suggesting strong societal support for the continuation of criminalization.Asante, S. (2024). A DISCOURSE ON THE BALANCE OF CULTURE AND LGBTQ RIGHTS IN GHANA (Master's thesis, University of South-Eastern Norway)
Political leadership has consistently resisted calls to reform or repeal the existing laws. In 2011, then-President John Evans Atta Mills publicly rejected suggestions from UK Prime Minister David Cameron that countries criminalizing homosexuality might face cuts in foreign aid. Mills asserted, "as president, I will never initiate or support any attempt to legalize homosexuality in Ghana," emphasizing national sovereignty and moral values (Mendos, 2020). His stance reflected a broader pattern of resistance among Ghanaian politicians to external pressure regarding LGBTQ+ rights.
In recent years, discussions about decriminalization have occasionally surfaced, largely driven by civil society organizations and international human rights advocates. However, these discussions have often faced fierce backlash from conservative segments of the population and political elites. Rather than moving toward decriminalization, Ghana's legislature moved to reinforce anti-LGBTQ+ measures. In 2021, the "Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill" was introduced in Parliament. The bill seeks to not only maintain the criminalization of same-sex relations but also to criminalize public displays of LGBTQ+ identity, advocacy, and support. It proposes severe penalties, including up to ten years' imprisonment for individuals or organizations found promoting LGBTQ+ rights.org/criminalisation-consensual-same-sex-sexual-acts
The 2021 bill has attracted widespread condemnation from international human rights organizations, including the United Nations, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, who argue that it violates the rights to freedom of expression, association, and privacy guaranteed under international human rights law. Critics have warned that the proposed law would legitimize further violence against LGBTQ+ individuals and severely curtail the work of human rights defenders in Ghana.
Despite this international criticism, the bill has gained considerable support domestically, including endorsements from many religious institutions and traditional leaders.Fjeldheim, M. S. (2024). Global Challenges, Local Impact: Exploring Norwegian Approaches to LGBT+ Inclusion in Development Policy between 2007 and 2023 (Master's thesis, The University of Bergen).
In February 2024, Ghana's Parliament passed the bill, but it required presidential assent to become law. President Nana Akufo-Addo delayed signing, citing legal challenges and potential economic repercussions, including the risk of losing $3.8 billion in World Bank funding. The bill lapsed with the dissolution of Parliament before the 2024 general elections.euters.com/world/africa/ghana-president-wont-act-anti-lgbtq-bill-before-legal-challenge-resolved-2024-03-19/
Moving forward in In March 2025, a group of MPs reintroduced the bill as a private member's bill. President John Dramani Mahama expressed support for the bill's principles but preferred it to be introduced as a government bill with some further consultation with religious and traditional leaders.
In November 2025, the president of Ghana, John Mahama, hinted that he will definitely assent to the bill if passed by the parliament of Ghana. He indicated his stance when he was addressing the Christian council of Ghana in Accra.
Application to heterosexuals While Ghana's criminal code criminalizes "unnatural carnal knowledge" under Section 104, which is often interpreted to include anal and oral sex, the law is not exclusively applicable to same-sex individuals. Technically, the statute also extends to heterosexual couples who engage in these acts. However, in practice, enforcement is overwhelmingly targeted at LGBTQ individuals. Heterosexual couples who engage in similar consensual sexual activities are rarely, if ever, prosecuted under this law.
Moreover, the Ghanaian Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) notes that such laws are often used as tools of moral policing rather than as genuine criminal justice mechanisms. This disparity raises concerns about privacy rights and equal treatment under the law.
The law also applies to acts of anal or oral sex engaged in by individuals of different sexes. The state, however, "does not concern itself with this" because it is their private life, prompting allegations of hypocrisy.
Critics of the law maintain that this inconsistency is not only hypocritical but also reinforces stigma and exposes LGBTQ individuals to legal harassment, public shaming, and blackmail. The 2021 Human Rights Watch report on Ghana highlighted that the law "has been used more as a weapon of social control than a means of upholding public morality" .
Relationship and family policy Ghana does not recognize same-sex marriage or civil unions under its current legal framework. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and there are no provisions in Ghanaian law that allow for the legal recognition of same-sex relationships. Article 39 of the Constitution further emphasizes the role of traditional values and cultural institutions, which often reinforces heteronormative frameworks and has been used to justify the exclusion of LGBTQ partnerships from legal recognition . Same-sex couples are explicitly excluded from the adoption process, as their relationships are not recognized, and the adoption system does not support joint applications from non-heterosexual partnerships. This lack of recognition leaves LGBTQ individuals in vulnerable legal and social positions, particularly in cases of long-term relationships or shared property.
According to the 2019 Afrobarometer survey, over 90% of Ghanaians expressed intolerance toward homosexuals, reinforcing the limited political will to advance LGBTQ rights, including family.Ossé, L. (2021). Ghanaians are united and hospitable but intolerant toward same-sex relationships.
Chicago These policies and legal exclusions continue to be a focal point of concern for human rights organizations, which argue that Ghana's approach violates the principles of non-discrimination and family life as enshrined in international human rights law, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Discrimination protections No broad legal protections exist for LGBT people against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in areas such as education, health, housing and employment.