Parliament has approved a custodial sentence of three to five years for any willful promotion, sponsorship, or support of LGBTQ+ activities.
Those caught engaging in LGBTQ+ activities will also face a minimum sentence of six months and a maximum of three years.
This was revealed during a discussion of the clause-by-clause amendment of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill.
The MP for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George, explained that the public’s concern was advocating and promoting such activities rather than private behaviour.
“What created the confusion was the establishment of an advocacy for promoting the activities; that is what Ghanaians are against. Nobody is interested in what you do in your bedroom. And so the punishment for one caught in the act is to be a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 3 years.
“However, for anyone acting in a willful promotion, sponsorship or support of the agenda, the punitive measure for that is minimum three years, maximum five years,” he said.
The sponsors of the bill, which criminalises same-sex relationships, including oral and anal sex, initially proposed penalties ranging from five to 10 years in prison.
This new development affects advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, the promotion of same-sex marriage, and the provision of support services to LGBTQ+ individuals.
It will also punish individuals or organisations involved in LGBTQ+ events or supporting LGBTQ+ rights.