Fast-track ‘Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill’ under certificate of urgency – Catholic Bishops, Christian Council urge parliament

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Christian Council of Ghana have called on Parliament to expedite the passage of the resubmitted Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill by treating it under a certificate of urgency.

The call was made in a joint communiqué issued after their annual ecumenical service held at the St. James Catholic Church in Osu, Accra, on 22 May 2025. The statement urged the current Parliament to fast-track the legislative process, arguing that the bill had already undergone extensive scrutiny under the previous Parliament.

“We expect that this bill will be treated under the Certificate of Urgency since all the work on it has already been done by the previous parliament,” the communiqué read.

The religious leaders also expressed strong support for the bill to be adopted and championed as a government-sponsored legislation, rather than as a Private Members’ Bill, in order to prevent legal challenges that hampered its earlier progress.

“We kindly affirm our support for the Bill to be government-sponsored through the Office of the Attorney General. This is to avoid the legal challenges that the previous bill suffered,” they stated.

The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, originally passed by Parliament in February 2024, was not assented to before the end of former President Nana Akufo-Addo’s term. It was resubmitted in February 2025 by lawmakers as a Private Members’ Bill. The proposed law seeks to criminalise same-sex sexual relations and the promotion of LGBTQ+ activities, prescribing prison sentences of up to three and five years respectively.

Though backed by a significant majority of Ghanaians, as shown by a 2021 Afrobarometer survey which found 93% of respondents disapprove of same-sex relationships, the bill has drawn international criticism for infringing on LGBTQ+ rights and freedoms.

President John Dramani Mahama, who assumed office in January 2025, has publicly committed to supporting the passage of the bill, positioning himself in alignment with the majority public sentiment in Ghana.

Despite support at the political and grassroots levels, the bill’s opponents argue it perpetuates fear, discrimination, and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals in the country. Human rights advocates and members of Ghana’s LGBTQ+ community have voiced deep concerns over safety and persecution, with some fleeing the country due to threats and attacks.

However, the Church maintains that the legislation is necessary to protect traditional family values and safeguard the moral fabric of Ghanaian society.