Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has criticised Ghana’s newly passed Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025. He argues that criminalising individuals based on their sexual orientation does not protect society. His comments were shared in a Facebook post on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, just days after Parliament approved the controversial legislation, commonly referred to as the anti-gay bill, on May 29, 2026.
The bill aims to criminalise LGBTQ activities in Ghana and was passed with several amendments that exempt certain individuals and institutions from penalties under the law. Under the revised provisions, lawyers who provide legal advice or representation to persons identified as LGBTQ will not face punishment. Journalists and media organisations reporting on LGBTQ-related issues as part of their professional duties are also exempt from sanctions. Medical professionals, including those offering surgical, psychological, and counselling services to LGBTQ persons, will similarly not be penalised under the legislation.
Reacting to the passage of the bill, Afenyo-Markin said the law risks criminalising people solely because of their identity. “A law that imprisons people for their sexual orientation or who they choose to love, does not protect society. It simply selects a group of human beings and makes their existence a crime. That is a line no Parliament in the civilised world should cross,” he wrote.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill has generated intense public debate in Ghana and drawn attention from local and international human rights groups, religious organisations, and policymakers. Supporters of the bill argue that it protects Ghanaian family values and cultural norms, while critics contend that it infringes on fundamental human rights and freedoms. The legislation is expected to undergo further constitutional and legal scrutiny as discussions continue over its implications for human rights, public policy, and Ghana’s international obligations.
Source: William Narh
