Days after parliament passed the controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, President Mahama says legal experts must review it thoroughly — even as rights groups warn of a growing climate of fear across the country.
IDEA Television News Desk
Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has signalled that the country’s sweeping anti-LGBTQ+ bill will face careful legal scrutiny before he decides whether to sign it into law. Speaking at a Chatham House event in London on Sunday, Mahama said his legal counsel and the Attorney General would need to review the legislation thoroughly, adding that the bill still had “quite a while to go” before it could become law.
The warning came just days after Ghana’s parliament approved the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill on May 29 — for the second time in two years. The legislation, passed in a voice vote, imposes a prison term of up to three years for individuals who engage in same-sex relationships, and between three and five years for those who promote, sponsor, or knowingly support LGBTQ+ activities. A previous version of the bill was passed unanimously by parliament in 2024 but was never signed by then-President Nana Akufo-Addo before his term expired, causing it to lapse.
“The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill has probably been the bill that has evoked the most interest in Ghana.”
— President John Dramani Mahama, Chatham House, London, June 1, 2026
Mahama also outlined other constitutional options available to him — including the power to refer the bill to the Council of State for advice if concerns arise. His cautious tone is notable given that he had previously stated in February 2025 that he believes “only two genders exist” and that marriage is between a man and a woman. Under significant pressure from religious groups and his own party’s lawmakers, Mahama has repeatedly declined to commit to a timeline for his decision.
The newly approved version includes limited exemptions for legal practitioners, journalists, and healthcare workers when serving LGBTQ+ clients — but human rights organisations warn these amendments do not go far enough. Advocacy group Rightify Ghana has announced plans to challenge the law in court, arguing that parliamentary procedures were not properly followed during the vote. Meanwhile, rights groups report that many LGBTQ+ Ghanaians have already begun deleting social media content, fearing eviction, job loss, harassment, and restricted access to healthcare even before the bill is formally signed.
The bill’s passage also carries significant economic risks. Ghana’s Finance Ministry previously warned that enacting the legislation could jeopardise $3.8 billion in World Bank financing and a $3 billion IMF loan package — a major concern for a country still navigating a difficult economic recovery. Mahama faces a rare moment of cross-party pressure: both the ruling National Democratic Congress and the opposition New Patriotic Party have backed the bill, reflecting deep domestic consensus even as international condemnation grows.
