Ghana's parliament has approved sweeping legislation criminalising LGBTQ+ identity and advocacy, imposing prison sentences of three to ten years on individuals found guilty of identifying as or promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer activity. The law, expected to be signed by President John Dramani Mahama, expands on existing colonial-era prohibitions and also requires citizens to report suspected LGBTQ+ individuals, with exemptions only for healthcare workers and lawyers — though activists warn the associated stigma will deter vulnerable people from seeking medical care, including HIV testing. Rights groups say community members are already deleting social media posts and seeking to flee the country, while a legal challenge is being prepared on procedural grounds; the bill's passage coincides with a regional conference in Accra promoting similar "family values" legislation across Africa.