President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana speaks at the United Nations in September. Ghana's parliament just passed an anti-LGBTQ+ law requiring prison time and mandatory reporting. File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI | License Photo
June 2 (UPI) -- Ghana's parliament approved a bill criminalizing identification as LGBTQ+ or promoting gay activities.
The legislation, called the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, mandates prison sentences of three to 10 years, The Guardian reported. President John Dramani Mahama is expected to sign it.
LGBTQ+ people are worried they could lose their homes, jobs or access to healthcare, community organizations have said. Many are already scrubbing their social media accounts.
"People are panicking and scared. The new bill affects where you are staying; it can get you evicted; it can lead you to lose your job," said Leila Lariba, director of One Love Sisters Ghana, an organization that supports lesbian and bisexual women.
