Ghana Supreme Court retains law banning same-sex relationships
Ghana’s Supreme Court has upheld a 60-year-old law that criminalises same-sex relationships, as the country anticipates another court decision on a proposed bill that could introduce even more severe punishments.
On Wednesday, the seven-member panel rejected a legal challenge to the law, with Presiding Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie indicating that the reasons for the decision will be provided at a later time.
The law in question, part of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960, refers to same-sex sexual acts as “unnatural carnal knowledge” and carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.
If the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, passed in February, becomes law, it could lead to harsher sentences for individuals convicted under the existing law.
The bill also proposes stricter measures against those accused of promoting LGBTQ+ rights or identities.
However, the court has delayed ruling on whether to send the bill to President Nana Akufo-Addo for approval, citing the need to first determine the bill’s constitutionality. A decision on this matter is still pending.
Legislation against same-sex marriage is widely supported in Ghana and many African countries, where president Akufo-Addo has said gay marriage will never be allowed while he is in power.
