Current Version
| Region | Ghana |
| Issue | Homosexual activity |
| Status | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Start Date | Feb 29, 2024 |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | Under Section 104 of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960 as "unnatural carnal knowledge". If the person is of 16 years or older and has consent, this is considered a misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 3 years as per Article 296(4) of the Criminal Procedural Code. In 2024, it was proposed to strengthen the law to criminalise any form of LGBTQ+ expression, and extended the potential prison sentence to 5-10 years, but is not yet in effect as of May 2024. |
| Sources | http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/44bf823a4.pdf https://ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2019.pdf https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/886465/GHANA_SOGIE_CPIN_v2.0.pdf https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/02/29/ghana-passes-anti-lgbt-bill/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-68353437 |
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Revision History (10)
| Old Value | New Value (Current) | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Under Section 104 of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960 as "unnatural carnal knowledge". If the person is of 16 years or older and has consent, this is considered a misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 3 years as per Article 296(4) of the Criminal Procedural Code. In 2024, this law was strengthened to criminalise any form of LGBTQ+ expression, and extended the potential prison sentence to 5-10 years. | Under Section 104 of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960 as "unnatural carnal knowledge". If the person is of 16 years or older and has consent, this is considered a misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 3 years as per Article 296(4) of the Criminal Procedural Code. In 2024, it was proposed to strengthen the law to criminalise any form of LGBTQ+ expression, and extended the potential prison sentence to 5-10 years, but is not yet in effect as of May 2024. |
Show Difference | ||
edited by Doomdorm64. 2024 bill
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Male illegal, female legal | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Description | Under Section 104 of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960 as "unnatural carnal knowledge". If the person is of 16 years or older and has consent, this is considered a misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 3 years as per Article 296(4) of the Criminal Procedural Code. In 2024, this law was strengthened to criminalise any form of LGBTQ+ expression. | Under Section 104 of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960 as "unnatural carnal knowledge". If the person is of 16 years or older and has consent, this is considered a misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 3 years as per Article 296(4) of the Criminal Procedural Code. In 2024, this law was strengthened to criminalise any form of LGBTQ+ expression, and extended the potential prison sentence to 5-10 years. |
Show Difference | ||
Reports (2)
- Status is not correct "this law is not yet passed/in effect "
- Status is not correct "This law has been passed by the Ghanaian parliament, but as of March 2024 has not been signed into law by the President into law, and is currently under review in the Supreme Court. "
edited by Doomdorm64. 2024 bill
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | Jan 12, 1960 | Feb 29, 2024 |
| Description | Under Section 104 of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960 as "unnatural carnal knowledge". If the person is of 16 years or older and has consent, this is considered a misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 3 years as per Article 296(4) of the Criminal Procedural Code. (Decriminalization pending) | Under Section 104 of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960 as "unnatural carnal knowledge". If the person is of 16 years or older and has consent, this is considered a misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 3 years as per Article 296(4) of the Criminal Procedural Code. In 2024, this law was strengthened to criminalise any form of LGBTQ+ expression. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/44bf823a4.pdf https://ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2019.pdf https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/886465/GHANA_SOGIE_CPIN_v2.0.pdf | http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/44bf823a4.pdf https://ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2019.pdf https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/886465/GHANA_SOGIE_CPIN_v2.0.pdf https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/02/29/ghana-passes-anti-lgbt-bill/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-68353437 |
Show Difference | ||
edited by Pizzaslices412653
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Under Section 104 of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960 as "unnatural carnal knowledge". If the person is of 16 years or older and has consent, this is considered a misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 3 years as per Article 296(4) of the Criminal Procedural Code Decriminalization pending. | Under Section 104 of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960 as "unnatural carnal knowledge". If the person is of 16 years or older and has consent, this is considered a misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 3 years as per Article 296(4) of the Criminal Procedural Code. (Decriminalization pending) |
Show Difference | ||
edited by Pizzaslices412653
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Under Section 104 of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960 as "unnatural carnal knowledge". If the person is of 16 years or older and has consent, this is considered a misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 3 years as per Article 296(4) of the Criminal Procedural Code Decriminalization pending | Under Section 104 of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960 as "unnatural carnal knowledge". If the person is of 16 years or older and has consent, this is considered a misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 3 years as per Article 296(4) of the Criminal Procedural Code Decriminalization pending. |
Show Difference | ||
edited by Pizzaslices412653
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Under Section 104 of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960 as "unnatural carnal knowledge". If the person is of 16 years or older and has consent, this is considered a misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 3 years as per Article 296(4) of the Criminal Procedural Code. | Under Section 104 of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960 as "unnatural carnal knowledge". If the person is of 16 years or older and has consent, this is considered a misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 3 years as per Article 296(4) of the Criminal Procedural Code Decriminalization pending |
Show Difference | ||
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Under Section 104 of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960. If the person is of 16 years or older and has consent, this is considered a misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 3 years as per Article 296(4) of the Criminal Procedural Code. | Under Section 104 of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960 as "unnatural carnal knowledge". If the person is of 16 years or older and has consent, this is considered a misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 3 years as per Article 296(4) of the Criminal Procedural Code. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/44bf823a4.pdf https://ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2019.pdf | http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/44bf823a4.pdf https://ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2019.pdf https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/886465/GHANA_SOGIE_CPIN_v2.0.pdf |
Show Difference | ||
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) | Male illegal, female legal |
| Description | If the person is of 16 years or older and has consent, imprisonment not exceeding 3 years. If the person does not have consent, from 5 to 25 years. | Under Section 104 of the Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960. If the person is of 16 years or older and has consent, this is considered a misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 3 years as per Article 296(4) of the Criminal Procedural Code. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/44bf823a4.pdf | http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/44bf823a4.pdf https://ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2019.pdf |
Show Difference | ||
| Old Value (Original) | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | 1960 | Jan 12, 1960 |
| Description | 10 years or more | If the person is of 16 years or older and has consent, imprisonment not exceeding 3 years. If the person does not have consent, from 5 to 25 years. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/GHANA/Law | http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/44bf823a4.pdf |
Reports (3)
- All information is correct, just adding sources "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/886465/GHANA_SOGIE_CPIN_v2.0.pdf"
- Status is not correct "Sodomy, which is a sexual ac, is illegal but homosexuality which is a sexual attraction is not illegal since it’s not recognized by the law. Lesbians are homosexuals but they do not engage in sodomy. Heterosexuals can engage in sodomy but does that make heterosexuality illegal? No. It makes only the sexual act illegal. "
- Status is not correct "it is only male that is illegal. please delete it."
created by robertshippey
| Original entry | |
|---|---|
| Status | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Start Date | 1960 |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | 10 years or more |
| Sources | http://ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/GHANA/Law |