One of the sponsors of the Promotion of Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, often known as the anti-LGBTQI bill, Ningo-Prampram Lawmaker Samuel Nartey George, has thanked his colleagues for their help in passing the legislation.

He informed media in Parliament after the law passed on Wednesday, February 28, that the sponsors had the overwhelming backing of the majority of MPs on both sides.

“We want to thank Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu who was very instrumental in passing this bill,” he said in a statement.


“This measure has received overwhelming support from all sides of the House.

“After three long years, we have finally passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Act 2024. I am grateful to my Colleague sponsors who have waged this battle with me to a successful end. Our collective gratitude goes to our Leadership and the Rt. Hon. Speaker for their guidance and leadership. Our values would be protected and defended so long as we have a voice. For God and Country.”

Ghana’s Parliament passed the anti-LGBTQI law after completing all three readings.


The bill’s third reading was placed on Wednesday, February 28.

“The third reading of the anti-LGBTQ bill has passed by parliament,” TV3’s Parliamentary journalist Komla Klutse stated.

Prior to its adoption, a human rights coalition consisting of CDD Ghana, “the big 18,” and others had urged President Akufo-Addo not to sign the measure in its current form.

At a news conference in Accra on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, Prof Audrey Gadzekpo, Board Chair of the CDD, stated that the Bill will violate many people’s fundamental human rights, particularly those of the media, as guaranteed in the 1992 Constitution.

Professor Gadzekpo stated, “We saw that attempts to alter the Bill to substitute community services for castration, made by the Member of Parliament for Effutu, Mr. Afenyo-Markin, were regretfully denied. Although the majority of the house rejected his proposals, resulting in their elimination, we admire his efforts to modernise our judicial system.

On Wednesday, February 21, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the then-Deputy Majority Leader, withdrew his modifications to the anti-LGBTIQ+ law, which aims to impose a jail term, clearing the way for the measure to be considered for passing in the following days.


However, the coalition of civil society organisations and interest groups insisted that the Bill should be reconsidered.

“Ghana is a secular and multi-religious country with more than 50 ethnic groupings and diverse cultural customs and beliefs. Any attempt to impose a uniform cultural value system for Ghana destroys the exquisite cultural mix that distinguishes us as a nation.” Professor Gadzekpo proposed.

She said, “It is for this reason that the constitution abolishes all practices and laws detrimental to people’s health and well-being, even in the name of culture and tradition.”


The coalition argued that the Bill would limit journalists’ capacity to speak freely. In its present version, the Bill stipulates that “any person who uses the media to broadcast and slash or advocate on the LGBTQ+ topic faces a prison sentence of up to three years.”

According to the organisation, “this places a heavy restriction on journalists, bloggers, influencers and various social media users who produce or publish content, especially those who work in the field of human rights.”