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STORY: Members of Ghana's LGBT community say they are living in more fear than ever.

They're waiting to see whether the West African country's president will sign into law a bill that would further restrict their rights.

Gay sex is already punishable by up to three years in prison.

The new law would also impose a prison sentence of up to five years for the promotion or support of LGBT rights, making it one of the harshest of its kind in Africa.

Kwame already bears the scars of Ghana's widespread intolerance of homosexuality.

In 2021, the 30-year-old was attacked by neighbors over his sexuality which left him partially blind.

"You can understand how this bill is just going to be - this is just the beginning."

Kwame and his partner, who live apart for safety reasons, believe their best option would be to leave Ghana before the law comes into effect.

"To be honest, for me, I don't think there is any future in this Ghana, when it comes to this thing. There is no future for you. Because I think they just want to end everything."

Homophobia is rife in culturally conservative Ghana.

Hostility and attacks are commonplace, although few such incidents make it to the courts.

In February, parliament unanimously passed the bill but President Nana Akufo-Addo has delayed signing it - with his office citing two impending Supreme Court challenges.

Ghana is also in the grip of an economic crisis and its finance ministry has warned that the bill could jeopardize $3.8 billion of World Bank funding and derail a $3 billion International Monetary Fund loan package.

But Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, spokesperson for Ghana's Chief Imam, said it would be wrong for the West to restrict aid on behalf of LGBT people.

"So Islam sees it as, I mean, treats it as abominable, it's reprehensible, it's detestable, it's prohibited, in our word it's haram, it's prohibited, and something that is sinful, among all other sexual immoralities that one can practise to attract the wrath of God."

On Thursday, the High Court in Accra is due to rule on a lawmaker's petition to compel Akufo-Addo to act on the law within seven days.

Human Rights Watch has urged Akufo-Addo to veto the law and warned it could lead to "further gratuitous violence against LGBT people and their allies"

The uncertainty over what happens next is weighing on those who worry about the law's broader social impact.

Emmanuel Owusu-Bonsu is an LGBT rights activist.

"It's almost like everybody in Ghana is about to be given a gun, that's how I see it, that everybody in Ghana is about to be given a gun, and can point it at anyone and just say, 'Gay, gay, gay, gay, gay,' and they'll be taking you away. So it's very scary."