The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has given the green light for the reintroduction of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, popularly known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill. This bill aims to criminalize LGBTQ+-related activities and has sparked intense public debate. The Speaker directed the Business Committee to schedule the bill for consideration, stating it meets all constitutional and procedural requirements.
The bill proposes increasing the maximum prison sentence for same-sex sexual acts from three to five years and imposing jail time for promoting or supporting LGBTQ+ activities. It had previously passed in the Eighth Parliament but lapsed due to the dissolution of Parliament. The bill’s reintroduction has raised concerns about potential economic implications, including jeopardizing $3.8 billion in World Bank funding and a $3 billion IMF bailout.
