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LGBT Rights in Ghana

    Homosexuality
    ✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
    Gay Marriage
    ✖ Not legal
    Censorship
    ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
    Changing Gender
    ✖ Illegal
    Non-binary gender recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Employment Discrimination
    Ambiguous
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✖ Single only
    Military
    ✖ Illegal
    Donating Blood
    ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    N/A

Surveys in Ghana have uncovered deeply ingrained homophobic attitudes, which may pose serious risks to LGBTQ+ community members.

History

Homosexual activity in Ghana

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Homosexual activity in Ghana is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).

Current status
Since Feb 29, 2024
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
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.

Jan 12, 1960–Feb 28, 2024
Male illegal, female legal
Up to 3 years in prison. Not enforced. information from lgbt silk map. as well as from HRW. decriminalization pending.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in Ghana

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Same-sex marriage in Ghana is not legal.

Current status
Since Jan 12, 1960
Not legal
Same sex marriage is not recognized in Ghana
Added by vviet93  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Ghana

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Censorship of LGBT Issues in Ghana is imprisonment as punishment.

Current status
Since Feb 29, 2024
Imprisonment as punishment
Since 2024, any form of LGBTQ+ self-identification is punishable by prison sentences.
Added by equaldex  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in Ghana

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Right to change legal gender in Ghana is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
It's impossible to change one's legal gender marker in Ghana.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Ghana

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

Current status
Not legally recognized
There is no legal recognition.
Added by Notdog1996  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in Ghana

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LGBT discrimination in Ghana is no protections.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 1992
No protections
Homosexuality is illegal. As well physical and violent homophobic attacks against LGBT people are common, often encouraged by the media and religious and political leaders. Reports of young gay people being kicked out of their homes are also common. Discrimination in state employment only.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Jan 12, 1960–Jan 1, 1992
No protections
As homosexuality is illegal, there are no legal protections
Added by vviet93  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in Ghana

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LGBT employment discrimination in Ghana is ambiguous.

Current status
Since Apr 1, 2018
Ambiguous
Only in state employment only.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in Ghana

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LGBT housing discrimination in Ghana is no protections.

Current status
Since Apr 1, 2018
No protections
No protections involving sexual orientation or gender identity.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in Ghana

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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.
Sources:
web.archive.org/web/2012022…//adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_info.php?country-select=ghana
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Serving openly in military in Ghana

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Serving openly in military in Ghana is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
Lesbian couples are banned from serving.
Sources:
(See sources listed for homosexual activity.)
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in Ghana

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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.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in Ghana

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Conversion therapy in Ghana is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
up to 400 people have been treated for homosexuality. on August 27, 2018.
Sources:
www.gaytimes.co.uk/news/112479/up-to-400-people-are-to-be-treated-for-homosexuality-at-a-camp-in-ghana/
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in Ghana

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Equal age of consent in Ghana is n/a.

Current status
N/A
Homosexuality is not fully illegal.
Sources:
Homosexuality is not fully illegal.
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log


LGBT Rights by Region

View the LGBT laws in each individual region of Ghana.