Gay Laws in Ghana And Around the World

Ghana's Criminal Code prohibits homosexuality in Chapter Six, Article 105, which states "whoever is guilty of unnatural carnal knowledge (a) of any person without his consent, is guilty of first degree felony; (b) of any person with his consent, or of any animal, is guilty of a misdemeanor."

Most other African countries have laws prohibiting homosexuality, some for men only. Penalties for being found in contravention of the laws range from fines in several countries, to life in prison, to the death penalty in Mauritania and Sudan.

There are no laws against homosexuality a dozen African countries including Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger and Rwanda.

South Africa has the most liberal laws in Africa; its constitution explicitly protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation, and a recent Supreme Court ruling made same-sex marriage legal.

Internationally, the countries of Belgium, Netherlands, Spain and Canada allow two people of the same sex to legally marry.

Dozens of other countries - especially in Europe - give some type of legal recognition to same-sex relationships, through registration or marriage-like "civil unions."

At the same time, more than two dozen countries - particularly in the Middle East and Asia - have laws that prohibit homosexual relationships. Several countries, including Saudia Arabia, Pakistan and Iran, impose life in prison or the death penalty for offenders.