By Nana Davis Mac-Iyalla Executive Director of IDNOWA
Ghana’s Parliament has, once again, reintroduced the so-called Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill—a Private Member’s Bill that seeks to criminalize LGBTQ+ identities, advocacy, and even journalism. But just like its predecessor introduced in 2021, this bill is not only discriminatory—it is unconstitutional.
⚖️ Article 108: The Bill’s Fatal Flaw
Under Article 108 of the 1992 Constitution, the Speaker of Parliament is prohibited from allowing any bill that imposes a financial burden on the State unless it is introduced by the government. This bill proposes prison sentences of up to 10 years for individuals who “promote” LGBTQ+ rights—including journalists, allies, and advocates.
That means:
Convicts must be housed, fed, and secured—at the taxpayer’s expense.
The bill is not government-sponsored, yet it mandates costly enforcement.
This is a textbook violation of Article 108. The Speaker is constitutionally barred from proceeding. Any attempt to do so undermines the integrity of Parliament and the rule of law.
📉 A Bill That Lapsed—and Should Stay Buried
The original version of this bill, introduced in 2021, lapsed without passage. It was widely condemned by legal experts, human rights defenders, and international observers. Its reintroduction in 2025 is not a revival—it’s a repetition of error.
🗣️ Legacy, Clarity, and Constitutional Courage
Let it be known: this bill is dead on arrival. No amount of posturing or moral panic can override the Constitution. Ghana’s democracy is not a playground for populist punishment. We must anchor our laws in justice, clarity, and fiscal responsibility.
To every journalist, advocate, and citizen who refuses to be silenced—stand firm. The Constitution is on your side. And to those who seek to weaponize Parliament against dignity and truth: the law has spoken. You may reintroduce the bill, but you cannot resurrect its legitimacy.
IDNOWA Condemns Burkina Faso’s Anti-Homosexuality Law as a Grave Violation of Human Dignity
IDNOWA stands in unwavering solidarity with LGBTQ+ communities across Africa and strongly denounced the recent passage of a law in Burkina Faso criminalizing homosexuality. This legislation, which imposes prison sentences of two to five years for consensual same-sex relations, is a direct assault on human rights, spiritual dignity, and the principles of justice that should guide any legitimate governance.
This law is not only inhumane—it is a dangerous distraction. At a time when citizens are calling for transparency, economic stability, and peace, the government has chosen to scapegoat LGBTQ+ individuals to deflect from its own failures. Such tactics erode public trust and deepen social divisions.
Davis Mac-Iyalla, Executive Director of IDNOWA, affirms:
“LGBTQ+ people are not outsiders—we are part of Africa’s story, its spirit, and its future. Criminalizing our existence is a betrayal of our shared humanity and a denial of the continent’s rich diversity.”
We call on the transitional government of Burkina Faso to repeal this unjust law and to redirect its energy toward inclusive governance, protection of civil liberties, and the healing of its nation. True leadership does not come from repression—it comes from courage, compassion, and accountability.
As an interfaith and ancestral justice network, IDNOWA affirms that every human being carries divine worth. We reject any attempt to criminalize love, identity, or existence. We urge regional and global allies to speak out, to protect those at risk, and to ensure that Africa’s future is not built on fear, but on freedom.
Let it be known: silence is complicity. We will not be silent.
Press Release For Immediate Release Date: 11 August 2025 Contact: Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA) Email: info@idnowa.org
IDNOWA Leads Bold Dialogue on Human Rights and Inclusion Amid Ghana’s Anti-LGBT Bill Debate
Accra, Ghana — On 4 August 2025, the Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA) hosted a landmark sensitization workshop aimed at promoting human rights awareness and fostering inclusive dialogue among religious and traditional leaders. The event comes at a critical time, as Ghana’s Parliament reconsiders the controversial anti-LGBT bill, raising alarm among civil society and international observers.
The workshop brought together a diverse group of faith leaders, human rights educators, and civil society representatives to explore the intersection of religion, culture, and inclusion. Through presentations, group discussions, and personal storytelling, participants examined the social and legal implications of the proposed legislation and reaffirmed their commitment to dignity and equality for all.
“This workshop is not just a conversation—it’s a commitment to justice,” said Davis Mac-Iyalla, Executive Director of IDNOWA. “We must continue to challenge exclusionary narratives and empower leaders to stand for compassion and equality.”
IDNOWA has been at the forefront of promoting inclusion across West Africa, using interfaith dialogue to dismantle stigma and build bridges between communities. The organization’s ongoing efforts include educational outreach, advocacy campaigns, and strategic partnerships with local and international stakeholders.
Key Outcomes: Increased empathy and understanding among religious leaders.
Commitments to promote inclusive practices within faith communities.
Heightened awareness of the anti-LGBT bill’s risks to civil liberties.
Recommendations: Continued engagement through follow-up workshops.
Development of tailored educational materials for faith communities.
Strengthened partnerships with advocacy groups to support inclusive policy dialogue.
This workshop underscores IDNOWA’s unwavering dedication to human rights and its strategic role in shaping a more inclusive West Africa.
For interviews, media inquiries, or further information, please contact: IDNOWA Communications Team 📧 info@idnowa.org 🌐 Visit our press page
The Equal Rights Coalition (ERC) brings together 44 member states, intergovernmental organisations and more than 100 civil society organisations to advance the rights and dignity of LGTBI communities globally. On behalf of the members of the ERC, Co-Chairs Colombia and Spain, with the support of Caribe Afirmativo and FundaciónTriángulo, declare:
That we reject all legislative amendments that seek to limit and restrict the right of LGBTI people and their allies to public assembly, public expression and privacy, under the pretext of protecting children and adolescents.
That these legislative amendments, which portray LGBTI people in a way that reinforces negative stereotypes, have serious consequences for the lives and human rights of LGBTI people, including LGBTI minors, such as prohibiting and limiting their participation in public life and generating a context of social stigmatisation that promotes and legitimises violence, discrimination and harassment.
That prohibiting by law the free expression of diversity, in books, films, performances, theatre, music or any other cultural expression, is a form of censorship that undermines human rights and democratic values and increases the vulnerability of LGBTI people. That curtailing the freedom of expression and assembly of LGBTI people, limiting or preventing public demonstration, or preventing the free expression and gender identity of transgender people, contradicts the fundamental values of dignity, freedom, equality and human rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
That the efforts of governments and civil society in many regions of the world to promote freedom of expression and assembly of LGBTI people should be recognised and that countries and civil society should continue to share good practices and inclusive legislation.
We therefore call on governments and international and regional organisations to reject such legislative provisions as they undermine the rights of LGBTI people, and the principles and values of democracy and human rights.
In plural and tolerant societies that respect diversity, there is no place for the prohibition of a free and non-violent demonstration such as LGBTI Pride.
Statement by the co-chairs of the ERC, Colombia and Spain, on behalf of the Equal Rights Coalition.
Statement by the Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA) on Ghana’s Upcoming Elections on 7th December 2024
As Ghana approaches its general elections on 7th December 2024, the Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA) calls for a peaceful, inclusive, and transparent electoral process that upholds the dignity and rights of all citizens.
A Call for Peace and Unity We urge political parties, candidates, and their supporters to prioritize peace and refrain from rhetoric or actions that may incite violence, division, or hatred. Ghana has long been a beacon of democracy in Africa, and it is imperative that this legacy is upheld during this critical period.
Respect for Human Rights Elections should not be a platform for the marginalization of vulnerable groups, including women, youth, and LGBTQI+ individuals. We call on all stakeholders to promote messages of inclusion, unity, and respect for diversity. Hate speech, stigmatization, and the use of homophobia as a political tool have no place in a democratic society.
Fairness and Transparency IDNOWA appeals to the Electoral Commission, security agencies, and all relevant authorities, to ensure that the electoral process is free, fair and transparent. Citizens must feel confident that their voices will be heard and their votes counted without intimidation or fear.
Engagement with Religious and Community Leaders As an interfaith organization, we emphasise the role of religious and community leaders in fostering dialogue and encouraging peaceful coexistence. Let us use our platforms to unite communities rather than divide them.
Encouraging Civic Responsibility We encourage all eligible voters to exercise their right to vote responsibly and without coercion. Participation in the democratic process is a cornerstone of active citizenship and a vital step toward shaping a more inclusive and equitable society.
Our Commitment IDNOWA remains committed to promoting peace, human rights, and inclusion across West Africa. We stand ready to collaborate with civil society organizations, government agencies, and international partners to ensure a peaceful electoral process in Ghana.
Together, let us strive for an election that reflects the values of justice, equity, and respect for all.
Signed Mr. Davis Mac-Iyalla Executive Director Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa.
Kano Cleric Apologises To Bauchi Gov’t Over False Claim On Homosexuality (leadership.ng) A Kano-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abdullahi Gadon Kaya has apologised to the Bauchi State government over a misinformation he propagated during one of his recent preaching sessions where he claimed that homosexuals across the country converged in an undisclosed hotel in the state to commit sodomy.
He also alleged that the homosexuals rented the hotel at a whooping sum of N100,000,000 for a 10-day event.
However, renouncing the claim, Gadon Kaya said he was wrongly informed by someone in Bauchi State who called him on phone to inform him about the supposed gathering of homosexuals.
LEADERSHIP reports that the allegation generated uproar in the state, leading to the cleric’s invitation by the Bauchi State Shariah Commission to give evidence of the claim.
Following the invitation by the commission, Gadon Kaya came out in a viral Facebook video monitored by our correspondent on Wednesday, debunking his previous allegations.
According to him, security agents had conducted thorough investigations on the matter but found it to be false.
He begged the Bauchi State government and security agencies for the misinformation, stressing that he was misled by someone whose identity he declined to reveal.
“I apologise to the government of Bauchi State and the security agents; and I want to state that I did not mean to hurt anyone with that misinformation. In the course of preaching, one may say something correctly or incorrectly at times”, he said.
Davis Mac-Iyalla, Executive Director, Interfaith Diversity Network said, “I am glad he has apologies after being found out for speaking dangerous rumours against the LGBT+ community and their allies but I believe he should have gone further to preach tolerance and inclusion. Many LGBT+ Nigerians have been violently attacked and some forced to flee the country as a direct result of fake rumours like this from religious and traditional leaders. fearing for their safety and security.
IDNOWA will continue to work with stakeholders and state actors advocating for the human rights and freedom of LGBT+ people in Nigeria, and West African in general.
LGBT people already live in fear in Nigeria, where same-sex relationships are illegal – now widespread misinformation about a European Union partnership pact has whipped up further hostility towards the community.
The Samoa Agreement – signed by Africa’s most-populous nation in June – is a co-operation deal between the EU and 79 countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
The 403-page pact does not mention LGBT rights or same-sex relationships at all – yet many Nigerians believe that by signing it the West African nation has automatically legalised same-sex relationships.
The claims went viral last week when a piece published by Nigeria’s Daily Trust newspaper falsely alleged that the agreement forced underdeveloped and developing countries to recognise LGBT rights as a condition “for getting financial and other supports from advanced societies”.
Even if the agreement referenced such rights, it would still be impossible for the provisions of any international agreement signed by Nigeria to automatically result in changing the law, Nigerian lawyer Ugo Egbujo explained
Under current legislation, adopted a decade ago, same-sex couples face up to 14 years in prison.
“The only way to domesticate a law is to bring it to the National Assembly, where members must deliberate and vote to adopt it. Without doing this, it isn’t a law nor is it justiciable nor enforceable,” Mr Egbujo told the BBC.
“We have clear legislation on same-sex marriage and since its establishment in 2014, it has not been touched. Signing a multilateral agreement will not automatically change that.”
Has the government reacted?
Yes, it says it would never compromise its anti-LGBT laws and that it signed the agreement to boost the country’s economic development.
The Nigerian Bar Association has also scotched rumours that there was a provision in the agreement requiring the country to accept LGBT rights as a pre-condition for a $150bn (£116bn) loan – adding there was no reference to any loans in the deal.
The EU confirmed to the BBC the deal did not include any dedicated funding for Nigeria but there was €150bn ($163bn, £126bn) available to Africa, under a scheme known as Global Gateway, aimed at boosting “smart, clean and secure links in the digital, transport, energy and climate-relevant sectors” and strengthening education.
Despite these clarifications, opposition supporters have weaponised the fake news to attack the government and to whip up anger around the contentious issues of religion, ethnicity and politics.
President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who are both Muslims, have been accused of betraying their religion.
The false story is trending across social media and has become the leading subject of debate for influencers and political commentators.
How has the LGBT community been affected?
Hate speech has increased, according to Bisola Akande, a senior programmes officer for a local LGBT group who requested her name be changed.
“We came under attack with our details posted online. We had to shut down our website and are trying to protect ourselves,” she told the BBC.
Wise, a human rights organisation based in the northern city of Kano, has been the subject of online attacks – forcing it to take down its website and lock its social media pages.
Social media accounts for staff have also been deactivated, protected or made private, one of its representatives told the BBC.
The fury against Wise has been prompted by footage resurfacing of one of its events held a few years ago at which an official belonging to the city’s Hisbah police, a unit which enforces Sharia or Islamic law, speaks in support of LGBT rights.
It has led to the official in question being arrested this week – despite his protestations that his remarks, made during an interview, were intended to be in support of women’s empowerment.
Female Nigerian TikTokers who post pictures of themselves with other women – even if a sister or friend – have also become the target of homophobic abuse with derisive comments condemning their supposed sexual orientation.
When were concerns about the deal first raised?
It can be traced back to lawyer Sonnie Ekwowusi, who wrote an opinion article in Nigeria’s Vanguard newspaper last November urging the Nigerian government not to sign the Samoa Agreement, calling it “the deceptively and euphemistically crafted LGBT agreement between the EU and ACP [African, Caribbean and Pacific] countries”.
The EU admitted there were concerns about LGBT issues when about 30 countries, mostly African and Caribbean nations, including Nigeria, initially failed to sign the pact last year.
They had wanted to check whether the deal “would be compatible with their legal order, notably as regards same-sex relations and sexual health and rights”, the EU said.
In fact “as a matter of compromise” it had been agreed that signatories would commit to the implementation of existing international agreements as some African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states had been “reluctant to see the foundation agreement mention sexual orientation and gender identity (LGBTI rights)”, it continued.
The Nigerian government went on to study the wording and agreed – saying in a declaration that it was consistent with Nigeria’s laws and other commitments.
Image caption,Nigeria’s ambassador to Belgium – Obinna Chiedu Onowu – signed the Samoa Agreement at the OACPS Secretariat in Brussels
Nigeria’s economic planning minister explained the Samoa Agreement had been signed on 28 June 2024 after being subject to extensive reviews and consultations by the country’s inter-ministerial committee.
Did this satisfy the critics?
No, Mr Ekwowusi reignited the flames of controversy several days later in his article published in the Daily Trust, which said that “certain articles of the agreement, especially articles 2.5 and 29.5, legalise LGBT, ‘transgenderism’, abortion, teen sexual abuse, and perversity in African countries”.
However, the content of these articles does not support this:
Article 2.5 reads: “The Parties shall systematically promote a gender perspective and ensure that gender equality is mainstreamed across all policies.”
Article 29.5 reads: “The Parties shall support universal access to sexual and reproductive health commodities and healthcare services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes.”
In an interview with the BBC, Mr Ekwowusi maintained his allegations.
“Gender equality” was a euphemism used by the EU to encompass sexual and LGBT rights and “reproductive health” was a euphemism for abortion and contraceptives, he said.
He admitted the pact could not override Nigerian legislation, but suggested tighter language was needed.
“We are advocating that they put a definition clause so that we know what the terms are. Define gender, define gender equality, define sexual reproductive health,” Mr Ekwowusi said.
What is the Samoa Agreement?
It is a legal framework for relations between the EU, a major provider of development aid, and 79 members of the Organisation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).
Respect for human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law constitute an essential element of the agreement, but it also encompasses areas like sustainable economic growth, climate change and migration.
The EU briefing document admitted that in some areas the wording fell short “of the EU negotiators’ ambitions”.
It replaces a previous EU partnership deal – the Cotonou Agreement – adopted in 2000 which aimed to reduce and eventually eradicate poverty.
IDNOWA members in Burkina Fasco are experiencing discrimination and hostility not only from service providers but also from family members and religious and traditional leaders.
Capt Ibrahim Traoré’s regime is spearheading an overhaul of marriage laws
Burkina Faso’s military junta has announced a ban on homosexual acts, making it the latest African state to crack down on same-sex relations despite strong opposition from Western powers.
Homosexuality was frowned upon in the socially conservative West African state, but it was never outlawed.
Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala said the junta’s cabinet had now approved legislation to make it a punishable offence, but he did not give further details.
The military seized power in Burkina Faso in 2022, and has pivoted towards Russia after drastically reducing ties with former colonial power, France.
Homosexual acts were decriminalised in Russia in 1993, but President Vladimir Putin’s government has been cracking down on the LGBTQ community, including banning what it calls “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations”.
The doctor forced to fight jihadists in Burkina Faso
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Burkina Faso’s decision to outlaw homosexual relations is part of an overhaul of its marriage laws.
The new legislation, which still needs to be passed by the military-controlled parliament and signed off by junta leader Ibrahim Traoré, only recognises religious and customary marriages.
“Henceforth homosexuality and associated practices will be punished by the law,” the justice minister was quoted by AFP news agency as saying.
Capt Traoré took power in September 2022 after overthrowing another military ruler, Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba, accusing him of failing to quell an Islamist insurgency that has gripped Burkina Faso since 2015.
Burkina Faso was among 22 out of 54 African states where same-sex relations were not criminalised.
Unlike in many former British colonies, it did not inherit anti-homosexuality laws after independence from France in 1960.
Muslims make up around 64% of Burkina Faso’s population and Christians 26%. The remaining 10% of people follow traditional religions or have no faith.
Many African states have been taking a tougher stand against the LGBTQ community in recent years.
Uganda is among those that have adopted legislation recently to further crack down on the community, despite strong condemnation from local rights groups and Western powers.
In May, its Constitutional Court upheld a tough new anti-gay law that allows for the death penalty to be imposed for “aggravated homosexuality”, which includes having gay sex with someone below the age of 18 or where someone is infected with a life-long illness such as HIV.
Activists said they would appeal against the ruling.
The World Bank has halted new loans to President Yoweri Museveni’s government while the US has stopped giving Ugandan goods preferential access to its markets, following the adoption of the legislation last year.
Mr Museveni defended the legislation as preserving traditional family values, and said Uganda would not allow the West to dictate to it.
The daughter of Cameroon’s president drew mixed reaction after she came out as a lesbian last week.
Brenda Biya, who lives abroad, said she hoped that her coming out would help change the law banning same-sex relations in the country.
Cameroon has been ruled with an iron-hand by her 91-year-old father, Paul Biya, since 1982.
In Ghana, parliament passed a tough new bill in February that imposes a prison sentence of up to three years for anyone convicted of identifying as LGBTQ+.
However, President Nana Akufo-Addo has not signed it into law, saying he will wait for the courts to rule on its constitutionality.
The finance ministry has warned him that if the bill became law, Ghana could lose $3.8bn (£3bn) in World Bank funding over the next five to six years.
Ghana is suffering a major economic crisis and received a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last year.
The subject of gay rights came up at a student forum attended by French politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon (L) and Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko (R) (c)AFP
A Senegalese court has jailed two men for “spreading false news” after they accused Ousmane Sonko, the country’s new prime minister, of tolerating homosexuality.
Activist Bah Diakhate and Imam Cheikh Ahmed Tidiane Ndao were jailed for three months and fined 100,000 CFA francs ($165, £130) each.
They had been angered that Mr Sonko had allowed a visiting French politician to express his support for same-sex marriages.
Homosexual acts are banned in the mainly Muslim West African country and are punishable by up to five years in prison.
The political activist and the preacher were arrested two weeks ago after posting a video attacking Mr Sonko for giving a platform to Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a far-left French politician.
Mr Mélenchon gave his opinion about same-sex marriages at a student forum in the capital, Dakar, in mid-May.
His comments reportedly sparked boos from the audience at Cheikh Anta Diop University.
In response Mr Sonko said that Western countries should show restraint on social matters such as LGBTQ rights as it could “lead to anti-Western sentiment”.
Senegal would continue to manage issues around homosexuality in accordance with its socio-cultural norms, the prime minister said.
He was quoted as saying that homosexuality was “not accepted, but tolerated” in Senegal.
Mr Sonko, a former firebrand opposition leader, was appointed prime minister in April after his ally Bassirou Diomaye Faye was elected president.
They were freed from prison not long before the vote in an amnesty aimed at calming months of political turmoil after the outgoing president had tried to postpone the election.
The pair campaigned on a promise of radical change – with an Afrocentric and nationalist agenda, promising to reset Senegal’s relationship with France, the country’s former colonial power.
Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa 