Human Rights Defenders in Ghana Criticize Anti-LGBT Bill Hearings for Excluding Civil Society

The human rights organization Rightify Ghana has criticized the public hearing process for the “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill,” also known as the anti-LGBT bill. As reported by MambaOnline , human rights defenders stated that parliament ignored the voices of civil society during the consultations.

Earlier, Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin announced that the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs had concluded stakeholder hearings. The committee was instructed to urgently submit its report for consideration and possible passage of the document.

According to Rightify Ghana, the organization submitted a detailed memorandum and proposed amendments to the bill but did not receive an invitation to speak at the hearings. The organization’s Executive Director, Ebenezer Peegah, noted that other organizations, rights groups, and affected individuals who submitted written proposals were similarly excluded.

Representatives of the organization argue that the hearings were dominated by the bill’s authors — in particular, MPs Samuel Nartey George and John Ntim Fordjour — while opponents’ opinions were restricted. Consequently, rights defenders described the public consultations as a “procedural formality.”

During one of the sessions, Samuel George criticized international donors, including The Global Fund, which supports the Ghana AIDS Commission. The MP accused the organization of promoting homosexuality through the distribution of condoms and lubricants.

Rightify Ghana urged parliament to disclose the list of all individuals and organizations that submitted memoranda and to explain the criteria for selecting hearing participants. The defenders demand that excluded parties be allowed to speak before the bill advances further. According to Peegah, the legitimacy of the legislative process depends on whether parliament protects space for independent participation and minority views.

The bill discussed in Ghana envisions the criminalization of LGBT identity, same-sex relationships, and medical services related to gender transition. Penalties could reach up to three years in prison. For publishing or distributing materials in support of LGBT people, the bill’s authors propose prison sentences of five to ten years. Additionally, the law would ban adoption by members of the community and lead to the dissolution of organizations supporting them.