Ghana's anti-LGBTQ+ bill to be scrutinised before approval, president says

Passed by MPs, the bill proposes prison sentences for people identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community. Ghana's anti-LGBTQ+ bill to be inspected before approval, president says Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Ghanaian President John Mahama's comments came during a visit to the UK John Mahama wearing sunglasses and dark grey clothes, walking on Downing Street. Ghana's anti-LGBTQ+ bill to be scrutinised before approval, president says Ghana's new bill criminalising LGBTQ+ activities will undergo scrutiny before it is officially approved, the president has said. Speaking during a visit to the UK, John Mahama said his legal council and attorney general would "sit on it because it was a private members' motion... [and] not a government bill". The bill - passed by parliament on Friday - proposes up to three years imprisonment for identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer, and a "duty to report" prohibited acts to police. The bill - passed by parliament on Friday - proposes up to three years imprisonment for identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer, and a "duty to report" prohibited acts to police. "We will look at it and make sure that everything is in order," Mahama said, adding that the bill would be referred to the Council of State - his advisors - if there were any problems. Since coming into power last year, Mahama has been pressured by religious leaders to strengthen anti-gay measures, which ban same-sex relationships under laws dating from the British colonial era. Discussing the bill during a question-and-answer session at the Chatham House think tank in London on Monday, Mahama also said there were some procedural lapses in its passage, which are being addressed by the Speaker of parliament. It is the second time such legislation has been backed by MPs. A similar bill was first introduced to parliament in August 2021 after an LGBTQ+ resources centre was shut down in the capital, Accra. Mahama's predecessor, former President Nana Akufo-Addo, failed to give his assent to that version of the bill before leaving office last year. When it passed in 2024, it was challenged by multiple lawsuits at the Supreme Court, which Akufo-Addo used as a reason for not approving it. The bill was reintroduced in parliament this year by a cross-party group of MPs. Mensah, a gay man looking out over Accra, Ghana Ghana's LGBT terror: 'We live in fear of snitches' Parliamentary members of Ghana's minority party said they preferred the version of the bill passed in 2024, claiming that amendments to the current legislation have watered it down. ''The bill appears, and not only appears, substantially has lost the force and the bite and the thrust, the deterrence, the efficacy that it contained and carried in 2024," minority spokesperson John Ntim Forjour explained. The current version exempts punishment for legal, healthcare and media professionals who provide medical treatment and other services for gay people, or report on LGBTQ+ news. Meanwhile, anyone who identifies as an "ally" - a supporter of LGBTQ+ people - could face a prison sentence. Both forms of the legislation have been widely criticised by rights groups for infringing on the rights of sexual minorities. Human Rights Watch recommended the bill be abandoned in a formal submission to the constitutional and legal affairs committee scrutinising the legislation in the capital, Accra. But advocates of the bill argue it will help preserve Ghanaian family values. Several African countries have cracked down on LGBTQ+ rights in recent years. Senegal's parliament approved similar legislation in March prescribing a maximum prison term of 10 years for sexual acts by same-sex couples and criminalising the ''promotion'' of homosexuality. Senegal's parliament approved similar legislation in March prescribing a maximum prison term of 10 years for sexual acts by same-sex couples and criminalising the ''promotion'' of homosexuality. Uganda introduced a death penalty for certain same-sex acts in 2023. A close-up of handmade bracelets and woven items in rainbow colours, with one beaded bracelet at the centre spelling out “LOVE NOT H8TE” in white letter beads. Two Ugandan women detained after allegedly kissing in public A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News Africa Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Same-sex acts are punishable by jail terms under Ghana's new bill targeting those identifying as gay, lesbian or transgender. The new law imposes a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail and criminalises the "promotion" of same-sex relations. "Violence and fear" will spike and "equality and non-discrimination" will be trampled on, warn critics. The US plan has sparked public anger and led to demonstrations near the site of the proposed treatment facility. The deaths come after a day of violent protests against illegal migration in the town of Mossel Bay. Sky Blues forwards Brandon Thomas-Asante and Ephron Mason-Clark have shared a similar path to the top flight. 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