Ghana’s Parliament has approved the amended Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, also known as the anti-LGBTQ bill.
The revised legislation, passed on Friday, May 29, includes exemptions for lawyers, journalists and healthcare professionals while maintaining provisions aimed at criminalising LGBTQ activities in the country.
Under the new amendments, lawyers offering legal services to persons identified as LGBTQ will not be penalised. Journalists and media houses reporting on LGBTQ-related matters as part of their work are also excluded from punishment. Health professionals providing counselling, medical treatment and related care have equally been exempted.
Presiding over proceedings, First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor announced the bill’s approval after its third reading.
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga said the exemptions were introduced to protect professional duties and prevent them from being interpreted as support or promotion of LGBTQ activities.
The amendments, however, generated strong debate in the House, with some Minority members insisting the changes weaken the intent of the earlier bill.
Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh and John Ntim Fordjour both expressed concern over the revisions.
The original bill was passed by Parliament in February 2024 but was not signed into law by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo due to legal challenges at the time.
