Policy advocacy group JustRight Ghana has strongly condemned the proposed Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025, describing it as “modern-day slavery” and cautioning that its endorsement could undermine the global human rights credibility of any political leader who supports it.
In a statement issued on April 14, 2026, the organisation criticised former President John Dramani Mahama over his stated willingness to assent to the bill if approved by Parliament. According to the group, backing legislation that could enable the arrest or mistreatment of LGBTQ+ individuals compromises a leader’s moral standing to advocate for human rights on the international stage.
The statement follows a petition submitted by the group to Lincoln University, urging the institution to reconsider its decision to confer an honorary doctorate on Mr. Mahama. The organisation argued that his position on the bill conflicts with the values such recognition is intended to uphold.
At the centre of the controversy is the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025, currently under consideration by Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee. The proposed legislation has triggered intense national debate, with proponents framing it as a safeguard for cultural and family values, while critics warn it could erode fundamental rights and freedoms.
JustRight Ghana, in its latest intervention, challenged prevailing narratives around the bill, arguing that its implications extend beyond moral discourse into core aspects of civil liberties. The group raised concerns that the legislation could infringe on individual privacy, restrict the operations of civil society organisations, and impose obligations on citizens to report suspected LGBTQ+ persons to authorities.
It further warned that various segments of society—including landlords, educators, families, and media practitioners—could face sanctions for offering support to LGBTQ+ individuals or failing to comply with reporting requirements outlined in the bill.
Grounding its opposition in Ghana’s legal framework, the organisation cited provisions of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, particularly Article 15, which guarantees human dignity, and Article 18, which protects the right to privacy. It argued that the proposed law is inconsistent with these constitutional safeguards and pledged to challenge it through legal means if enacted.
The group also pointed to Ghana’s obligations under international human rights instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, suggesting that the bill could place the country at odds with its treaty commitments.
Beyond legal arguments, the organisation asserted that the effects of the proposed legislation are already being felt, citing increased fear and vulnerability among LGBTQ+ individuals even before its potential passage.
While acknowledging the likelihood of the bill’s approval given the current political climate, JustRight Ghana maintained its opposition, indicating that it would continue to resist its implementation and long-term impact.
