ACCRA, GHANA – Ghana's Parliament has passed a new piece of legislation that imposes stringent penalties on people who identify as LGBTQ, or those who support their rights, amidst widespread international criticism.

The bill, which few see as a grave setback for human rights in the country, stipulates jail terms of up to five years for LGBTQ individuals. Furthermore, the legislation criminalizes advocacy for LGBTQ rights, a development that has sparked fear and uncertainty within the country's minority groups.

Human rights organizations, LGBTQ advocates, and several international entities, including the United Nations, have condemned the bill, stating it is a grotesque infringement on individual freedom and expression. Critics also argue that the legislation will only serve to increase intolerance and violence against an already vulnerable group.

Conversely, a considerable faction of the Ghanaian populace supports the bill. The reasoning behind this largely stems from pronounced cultural and religious convictions. In Ghana, as in many other African nations, traditionalist views often clash with LGBTQ rights, which a number of Ghanaians consider to be a Western import incompatible with their societal values.

Supporters of the bill have voiced their opinion that the presence of LGBTQ individuals and the advocacy for their rights potentiate Western cultural influence, which they see as an affront to Ghana's sovereignty and social fabric. The bill, they believe, is a way to uphold Ghana’s cultural integrity and moral values.

"The narrative of LGBTQ community being a Western imposition is strongly entrenched within a segment of our society," explains Ama Kudom-Agyemang, a cultural analyst based in Accra. "There is a firmly held belief that heterosexual norms are intrinsic to Ghanaian tradition, and any deviation is thus regarded as alien."

The passage of the bill has increased tensions, with reports of both public and clandestine discrimination against LGBTQ individuals escalating, leading many to live in fear of exposure and reprisal.

Various international bodies have called for a reevaluation of the legislation, pressing upon the Ghanaian government the importance of aligning with international human rights standards. Activists within the country are rallying for support and organizing to challenge the law's constitutionality before it officially becomes operative.