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Public Opinion

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Recent studies in Ghana indicate societal resistance to LGBTQ+ rights.

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LGBTI people deserve equal treatment as heterosexuals

(Acila, 2018)
10.4%
Strongly agree
29.9%
Agree
34.7%
Disagree
25%
Strongly disagree

LGBTI people should be able to hold public meetings to discuss LGBTI issues

(Acila, 2018)
12.7%
Yes
87.3%
No

LGBTI people should be protected by the police from mob injustice

(Acila, 2018)
30.8%
Strongly agree
40.7%
Agree
12.3%
Disagree
8.1%
Strongly Disagree

Comfort level of citizens in associating themselves with LGBTI people

(Acila, 2018)
3.8%
Very comfortable
16.2%
Comfortable
35.3%
Uncomfortable
44.8%
Very uncomfortable

Tolerance levels towards LGBTI people

(Acila, 2018)
Treat him or her just like any heterosexual
Verbally abuse him or her
Physically abuse him or her
Socially shun him or her
Force him/her to hide his/her identity

Support for public officials making homophobic statements towards LGBTI people

(Acila, 2018)
75.5%
Support
24.5%
Oppose

LGBTI students should be expelled

(Acila, 2018)
46.3%
Disagree
53.8%
Agree

Receiving emergency medical treatment from a nurse or medical doctor who is perceived to be LGBTI

(Acila, 2018)
Will receive emergency medical treatment
Will not receive emergency medical treatment

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History

Homosexual activity in Ghana

?

Homosexual activity in Ghana is male illegal, female legal.

Current status
Since Jan 12, 1960
Male illegal, female legal
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.
Details
Sources:
www.refworld.org/pdfid/44bf…
ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_Sta…
assets.publishing.service.g…
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Same-sex marriage in Ghana

?

Same-sex marriage in Ghana is banned.

Current status
Since Jan 12, 1960
Banned
Same sex marriage is not recognized in Ghana
Details
Sources:
www.loc.gov/law/help/crimin…
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Ghana

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in Ghana is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Ghana, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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Right to change legal gender in Ghana

?

Right to change legal gender in Ghana is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
It's impossible to change one's legal gender marker in Ghana.
Details
Sources:
www.newsghana.com.gh/woman-…
database.ilga.org/ghana-lgbti
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Gender-affirming care in Ghana

?

Gender-affirming care in Ghana is restricted.

Current status
Since 1996
Restricted
In 1996, Ghana legalized sterilization, which de facto meant legalizing sex reassignment surgery, however, medical records regarding transsexualism had to be obtained abroad.

The government is trying to pass a law that seeks to ban gender affirming surgeries and access to such is difficult for trans Ghanians.
Details
Sources:
www.rhsupplies.org/uploads/…
nyuad.nyu.edu/content/dam/n…
www.amnesty.org/es/wp-conte…
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Until 1996
Banned
Medical transition is not possible
Details
Sources:
www.rhsupplies.org/uploads/…
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Ghana

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Ghana is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
There is no legal recognition.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/ghana-lgbti
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LGBT discrimination in Ghana

?

LGBT discrimination in Ghana is illegal in some contexts.

Current status
Since 2008
Illegal in some contexts
Some protections based on sexual orientation.

The Electronic Transactions Act (2008) protects sexual orientation as personal information.

The interpretation of the Data Protection Act (2012) establishes protection of the sexual orientation of the data subject as "special personal data".
Details
Sources:
opencontentghana.wordpress.…
(page 64)
nca.org.gh/wp-content/uploa… (page 50)

www.hrw.org/video-photos/in…
www.hrw.org/news/2018/06/26…

ghanapsychologycouncil.gov.…
ghanapsychologycouncil.gov.…
ghs.gov.gh/wp-content/uploa…
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Until 2008
No protections
Until 2008, there were no protections from discrimination provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Ghana
Details
Sources:
www.refworld.org/pdfid/44bf…
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LGBT employment discrimination in Ghana

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Ghana is no protections.

Current status
No protections
No protections.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/ghana-lgbti
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LGBT housing discrimination in Ghana

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Ghana is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Same-sex adoption in Ghana

?

Same-sex adoption in Ghana is single only.

Current status
Single only
Application for adoption may be made by a single person, but only if that person is a citizen of Ghana. Same-sex couples are not allowed to adopt children in Ghana.
Details
Sources:
web.archive.org/web/2012022…
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Intersex infant surgery in Ghana

?

Intersex infant surgery in Ghana is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
There is no ban on surgeries performed on intersex infants in Ghana.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/ghana-lgbti
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Serving openly in military in Ghana

?

Serving openly in military in Ghana is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
Lesbian couples are banned from serving.
Details
Sources:
(See sources listed for homosexual activity.)
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Blood donations by MSMs in Ghana

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Ghana is banned (indefinite deferral).

Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
According to the National Ghana Blood Service, people in homosexual relationships are banned from donating blood.
Details
Sources:
nbs.gov.gh/blood-donors-blo…
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Conversion therapy in Ghana

?

Conversion therapy in Ghana is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is not banned in Ghana and is widespread.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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Equal age of consent in Ghana

?

Equal age of consent in Ghana is n/a.

Current status
N/A
Homosexuality is not fully illegal.
Details
Sources:
Homosexuality is not fully illegal.
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LGBT Rights by Region

View the LGBT laws in each individual region of Ghana.

    Equality Index ?
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    Legal Rights
    20 / 100
    Public Opinion
    18 / 100

    Equality Rank

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    #51
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    Compare Ghana

    29

    Compare with
    Benin

    22

    Compare with
    Burkina Faso

    65

    Compare with
    Cape Verde

    25

    Compare with
    Côte d’Ivoire

    3

    Compare with
    Gambia

    16

    Compare with
    Guinea

    37

    Compare with
    Guinea-Bissau

    18

    Compare with
    Liberia

    LGBT Rights in Western Africa

    29

    LGBT Rights in
    Benin

    22

    LGBT Rights in
    Burkina Faso

    65

    LGBT Rights in
    Cape Verde

    25

    LGBT Rights in
    Côte d’Ivoire

    3

    LGBT Rights in
    Gambia

    16

    LGBT Rights in
    Guinea

    37

    LGBT Rights in
    Guinea-Bissau

    18

    LGBT Rights in
    Liberia

    8

    LGBT Rights in
    Mali

    10

    LGBT Rights in
    Mauritania

    27

    LGBT Rights in
    Niger

    8

    LGBT Rights in
    Nigeria

    86

    LGBT Rights in
    Saint Helena

    5

    LGBT Rights in
    Senegal

    14

    LGBT Rights in
    Sierra Leone

    9

    LGBT Rights in
    Togo