The Parliament of Ghana passed a bill Wednesday that makes it illegal to identify as LGBTQ+ in Ghana. The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021 states that anyone who is found to be LGBTQ+ in the country could be imprisoned.

Ghana’s Parliament passed the bill by a unanimous vote following the completion of its third reading in parliament. Under this new law, anyone identifying as LGBTQ+ could face up to three year in prison, while anyone who forms or funds LGBTQ+ groups could face up to 5 years in prison.

The bill states that its intention is as follows:

The object of the Bill is to provide for proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values; proscribe LGBTQ+ and related activities; proscribe propaganda of, advocacy for or promotion of LGBTTQQIAAP+ and related activities; provide for the protection and support for children, persons who are victims or accused of LGBTTQQIAAP+ and related activities and other person; and related matters.

The bill was formed in response to Ghana’s first LGBTQ+ advocacy resource centre opening in Accra in January 2021. According to the bill, this event was “greeted with a plethora of criticism from a cross section of Ghanaians” and the centre was closed following public protests. At the time, the National House of Chiefs issues a statement regarding the centre, affirming that “nowhere does the Ghanaian culture subscribe to LGBTQI which is a taboo, inhuman and alien to our society.”

Member of Parliament Sam George, a strong supporter of the bill, spoke to reporters after the vote. He stated that their “cultural values are upheld and respected” by the bill. When asked whether there was opposition to the bill, George stated “We may have had one or two members express divisions, but that is their democratic right. We respect it but the overwhelming majority of both sides of the house have supported this bill.”

The bill will be forwarded to President Nana Akufo-Addo, who must assent the bill before it becomes law in Ghana.