Ghana’s Parliament held the second consideration proceedings for an anti-LGBTQ+ bill on Wednesday, amid concerns that the bill would be stalled. The bill, which has received pushback from the LGBTQ+ community, prohibits individuals within the country from instigating, soliciting or encouraging “any activity that undermines proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian Family values.”

Parliament rejected the proposed modifications that sought to substitute non-custodial penalties for jail terms for offenses covered by the bill. Moreover, the Parliament rejected further modifications that would have made counseling mandatory for those found guilty of offenses covered by the bill.

The rejection follows the Deputy Majority Leader’s failed appeal to have a secret ballot for the amendments due to the sensitive nature of the bill.

LGBT+ Rights Ghana alerted the community of the development stating:

In light of this development, we urge all community members to remain calm and prioritize their safety above all else. It’s important to note that even if the Bill is passed tomorrow, it will not become law until the President signs it, a process that could take several months. However, we must remain vigilant, as some individuals may mistakenly believe the Bill is already law and resort to attacking others. Please take necessary precautions to stay safe during this time.

In addition to prohibiting individuals from instigating, soliciting or encouraging “any activity that undermines proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian Family values,” the bill also criminalizes same sex marriage and sexual relations. Individuals found liable of any of these offenses face a fine or an imprisonment term of between three to five years—or both. The bill also bans any acts that promotes or advocates for the LGBTQ+ agenda, with those caught in violation receiving imprisonment that can vary from five to ten years.