Gay sex was already punishable by up to three years in prison. The bill now also imposes a prison sentence of up to five years for the "wilful promotion, sponsorship, or support of LGBTQ+ activities."

The bill is one of the harshest of its kind in Africa.

"My heart is broken and devastated at the moment; that's all I can say for now," Angel Maxine, Ghana's first openly transgender musician and LGBTQ activist, told Reuters.

A coalition of Christian, Muslim, and Ghanaian traditional leaders sponsored the legislation.

Following the vote in parliament, the bill will be presented to President Nana Akufo-Addo, after which he has seven days to assent or refuse to assent, according to Ghana's constitution.

If he assents, the bill becomes law. Akufo-Addo had avoided the heated debate over the bill but said he would react once it was voted on by parliament.

Opposition lawmaker Sam George, the main sponsor of the bill, urged Akufo-Addo to assent to it.

“There is nothing that deals with LGBTQ better than this bill that has been passed by parliament. We expect the president to walk his talk and be a man of his words,” George said.

Winnie Byanyima, executive director of the United Nations Aids agency UNAIDS, said in a statement that the bill will affect everyone if it becomes law, adding that punitive laws as embodied by the bill are a barrier to ending AIDS and ultimately undermine everyone's health.

"It will exacerbate fear and hatred, could incite violence against fellow Ghanaian citizens, and will negatively impact on free speech, freedom of movement, and freedom of association," Byanyima said in a statement.