Lawmakers representing more than a dozen African countries have voiced support for stricter measures targeting LGBT rights after attending a conference in Ghana that brought together “pro-family” activists from Africa and Europe.
The African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family Values and Sovereignty was held in Accra from June 3 to 6, coming shortly after Ghana’s parliament passed one of the continent’s toughest anti-LGBT bills, which makes the promotion of LGBT identities a criminal offence.
Participants said the meeting signals a growing regional momentum toward more restrictive legal frameworks affecting LGBT communities, a shift they linked in part to influence from conservative political and advocacy groups in the United States and Europe. Some attendees also suggested the political environment under Donald Trump’s return to the White House has encouraged renewed activity in this area.
According to several delegates, the current US administration’s stance differs significantly from previous governments, with fewer foreign policy efforts focused on advancing LGBT rights abroad.
In his opening address, Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin urged lawmakers to ensure the conference outcomes are implemented at home. “When you return to your respective capitals, let the resolutions we adopt here not gather dust in the archives of our secretariats. Let them be translated into active bills, robust budgetary allocations, and rigorous oversight,” he said.
He added: “Go home and tell your people that their representatives have resolved to protect the sanctuaries of their homes, the heritage of their ancestors, and the sovereignty of their nations.”
More than half of Africa’s 54 countries already criminalise same sex relationships, with nations such as Uganda and Senegal recently introducing additional laws targeting what they describe as the “promotion” of LGBT identities. Ghana’s parliament passed similar legislation in late May, though it is still awaiting presidential approval.
Organisers said representatives from around 20 countries attended the Accra meeting, though it remains unclear how many intend to formally introduce new legislation based on the discussions.
Reports based on participant accounts and conference documents suggest the event featured more than 100 pages of presentations. However, the extent of foreign involvement or funding could not be independently verified.
Among those referenced was Sharon Slater of the US based group Family Watch International, who has previously attended similar gatherings in Africa but did not participate this year despite being invited.
Speakers also included Dutch activist Henk Jan van Schothorst, who criticised Western efforts to restrict conversion therapy practices in Africa, describing such measures as “ideological colonisation” by Western powers.
In one presentation, Kenyan doctor Wahome Ngare offered definitions of homosexuality and transgender identity that linked them to abuse, claims that reflect contested and widely disputed viewpoints.
The conference concluded with the adoption of an “African Charter on Family, Sovereignty and Values,” a document previously developed in Uganda. The charter encourages governments to reconsider international agreements perceived as supporting LGBT rights, abortion access, or comprehensive sex education.
It also calls on signatories to introduce domestic laws aimed at preserving what it describes as African cultural and moral values. Lawmakers from 18 of the 20 participating countries reportedly backed the charter.
Public health experts have warned that increasingly restrictive laws could discourage LGBT individuals from seeking healthcare services. In several countries, including Senegal, HIV treatment uptake has reportedly declined amid heightened legal and social pressure.
For many LGBT people in Ghana, the policy debate has already intensified fears.
“I constantly self-censor, hide, watch my back. That’s not safety, that’s survival,” said a photographer based in Accra. “So yes, leaving has crossed my mind. That breaks my heart because Ghana is my home.”
Earlier reporting indicated that some US based conservative advocacy groups have engaged with activists supporting similar legislation in parts of West Africa.
Ghana’s bill now awaits a decision from President John Dramani Mahama, who has previously expressed support for similar measures but has recently cited procedural concerns.
Meanwhile, a coalition of more than 100 African civil society organisations has urged the president to reject the legislation, warning against the influence of external actors on domestic policymaking.
The US State Department has said its current foreign assistance approach ensures taxpayer funds are not used for what it described as divisive social issues.
At the Accra conference, former Ugandan lawmaker Sarah Opendi welcomed the shifting global political tone, saying: “Let us first thank the American people for voting for President Trump. The conversation in America today is different.”
Goodness Anunobi
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