Ghana’s parliament has passed a tough new bill that imposes a prison sentence of up to three years for anyone convicted of identifying as LGBTQ+. It also imposes a maximum five-year jail term for forming or funding LGBTQ+ groups. Lawmakers heckled down attempts to replace prison sentences with community service and counselling. It is the latest sign of growing opposition ...

The United States has said it is “deeply troubled” by the passing in Ghana of a stringent anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, which it says threatens constitutional freedoms. “The bill would also undermine Ghana’s valuable public health, media and civic spaces, and economy,” the US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. It has called for the “review of the constitutionality ...

A two-day protest kicked off in Nigeria’s commercial hub of Lagos on Tuesday (Feb. 27) morning shortly before other locations nationwide followed. One of the country’s main unions, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has called workers to demonstrate outrage at the mounting hardship and insecurity. The watchword was “endhardshipnow”. Nigerians are living through one of the West African nation’s worst ...

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reaffirmed his support for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) in their efforts to restore democracy in Africa. In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on February 27, 2024, he condemned the recent wave of military coups and interventions that have undermined democratic governance in some ...

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has pledged full government support to ensure the smooth functioning of the Electoral Commission (EC) in the upcoming 2024 general elections, stressing the commitment to free, fair, and transparent polls. During the State of the Nation address on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, in Accra President Akufo-Addo affirmed, “Government is doing its part to facilitate the ...

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says Ghana has instituted necessary measures to protect its territorial integrity against extremist activities. However, he says, the country cannot afford to take its territorial integrity for granted.  He said whereas many countries in the Sahel region have experienced terrorist attacks, Ghana is the only country in the coastal region of West Africa that has ...

The Women’s Manifesto Coalition (WMC) has raised concerns about political party cultures that are failing to include gender equality and women’s rights as salient issues in the process of building a democratic Ghana. The Coalition argues that the continuous underrepresentation of women in decision–making positions does not augur well for women’s ability to contribute to critical decisions that have implications ...

Kenya has waived entry fees for passport holders from South Africa and six other countries, following widespread criticism of the recently introduced $30 fee. The move aims to boost tourism and attract business travellers. Previously, all foreign passport holders were subject to visa requirements, but the government’s decision sparked backlash for potentially increasing travel costs and bureaucracy.  Exemptions now apply ...

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has cautioned customers to refrain from making payments to specific mobile money accounts purportedly linked to ECG services. Management revealed that some individuals have been contacting customers, soliciting payments to a designated MoMo number as a prerequisite for accessing ECG services. In response, ECG released a disclaimer on Thursday, February 22, 2024, advising customers ...

More than 50 percent of expectant and new mothers experience perinatal depression, a situational analysis of mental health disorders related to pregnancy has shown. Among the number, between 13 and 17 percent develop suicidal intentions. The analysis was conducted by the Ghana Health Service (GHS), in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MoH), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the UK-Foreign ...