Ghana Anti-LGBTQ Bill Returns; Turkiye Plans Limits

By: Paul Goldberg, Senior Correspondent | LGBT Politics Asia

ACCRA / ANKARA — (February 27, 2026) — Lawmakers in Ghana have formally reintroduced the controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, while officials in Turkiye are advancing plans to tighten restrictions on transgender health care and same-sex ceremonies — signaling renewed pressure on LGBTQ communities in both Africa and Asia.

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The developments mark a significant escalation in global policy debates over LGBTQ rights, with critics warning that both proposals could violate international human rights commitments.

Ghana Reintroduces Expansive Criminalization Bill

Ghana’s proposed legislation was formally introduced in Parliament on Feb. 17 as a private member’s bill, according to regional reporting. The bill had previously passed Parliament in 2024 but expired without presidential assent under former President Nana Akufo-Addo.

Current President John Mahama has previously stated he would sign the legislation if it passes again.

If enacted, the bill would expand Ghana’s existing law — which already carries a three-year prison sentence for same-sex intimacy — by criminalizing:

Under the proposal, individuals accused of “promoting” LGBTQ activity could face prison sentences of up to 10 years.

The bill has drawn criticism from Ghana’s Human Rights Commission, which warned Parliament that it may violate constitutional protections of association and expression.

Cardinal Peter Turkson of the Catholic Church in Ghana has also publicly distanced himself from the legislation, noting concerns that it criminalizes identity rather than specific conduct.

Supreme Court Background and Escalation

In December 2024, Ghana’s Supreme Court dismissed a legal challenge seeking to declare the bill unconstitutional, ruling that it could not intervene before presidential assent.

Separately, the court upheld Section 104 of Ghana’s Penal Code — a colonial-era provision criminalizing same-sex intimacy with penalties of up to three years in prison.

Human rights organizations have reported that debate surrounding the legislation has coincided with increased reports of harassment, evictions, arbitrary arrests, and violence against individuals perceived to be LGBTQ.

The renewed introduction of the bill in February follows earlier procedural confusion in 2025, when lawmakers claimed it had been refiled but later discovered it was not formally on Parliament’s agenda.

Watch Anti-LGBTQ Bill Formally Introduced to Ghana’s Parliament Following First Reading

Turkiye Signals New Restrictions on Transgender Health Care

Meanwhile, Turkiye’s Ministry of Justice has reiterated plans to introduce legislation increasing penalties for what officials describe as “glorifying deviance,” including same-sex engagement or marriage ceremonies.

Proposed measures reportedly include:

Raising the minimum age for gender-affirming care to 25
Expanding criminal penalties for providers and patients who violate restrictions
Increasing penalties for conduct deemed “contrary to biological sex”

No formal legislation has yet been introduced, but advocacy groups warn that the proposals could conflict with Turkiye’s international human rights commitments.

Turkiye has previously faced scrutiny from European human rights bodies over freedom of expression and LGBTQ assembly rights.

A Broader Global Pattern

The renewed push in Ghana and policy signals from Turkiye reflect broader global tensions over LGBTQ legal recognition and gender identity protections.

International human rights advocates argue that criminalizing identity, restricting medical access, and penalizing public advocacy may place both nations at odds with international agreements protecting freedom of association, dignity, and medical autonomy.

Supporters of the bills, however, frame the measures as protections of cultural values and traditional family structures.

As both governments navigate legislative processes in the coming months, LGBTQ communities and international observers are closely monitoring whether the proposals advance into enforceable law.

JRL CHARTS will continue tracking legislative developments in Ghana, Turkiye, and across the globe as international debates over LGBTQ rights and transgender health policy evolve in 2026.