Staff Reporter

The Parliament of Ghana has taken a step in advancing a bill aimed at tightening restrictions on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals.

The proposed legislation, sponsored by a coalition of Christian, Muslim, and Ghanaian traditional leaders, received support from the majority of lawmakers, rejecting a proposal that sought to replace jail terms for gay sex with non-custodial sentences such as counseling.

Considered one of the strictest of its kind in Africa, the bill will now undergo further refinements before a parliamentary vote.

The passing of a similar anti-LGBTI law in Uganda in May 2023, which included the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality,” was met with widespread condemnation.