Ghana’s presidential race raises stake for LGBTQ+ rights

Ghana – In Ghana’s general elections next month, the LGBTQI+ community faces an impossible choice after all the leading presidential candidates pledged to crack down on gay rights.

The winner of the presidential election on December 7, 2024 may be forced to sign into law or veto a bill the parliament passed earlier this year imposing jail time on LGBTQI+ people, according to a report by Allafrica news.

Human rights groups have said the proposed law would worsen the persecution of sexual and gender minorities as it expanded the definition of illegal activity and increases penalties.

This bill imposed a maximum penalty of five years in prison for same-sex activities, allows for the prosecution of people who identify as non-binary, and punishes advocates who fund victim services.

Several legal challenges had been filed against the bill, and the Supreme Court is expected to decide on its constitutionality on December 18, 2024.

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