By Lucy Adautin
Ghana’s Finance Ministry has advised President Nana Akufo-Addo against endorsing a contentious anti-LGBT bill recently approved by Parliament.
The ministry cautioned that the country stands to forfeit a cumulative sum of $3.8 billion (£3 billion) in World Bank funding over the next five to six years if the bill becomes law.
The legislation proposes a three-year prison sentence for identifying as LGBT+ and five years for promoting LGBT+ activities.
Ghana is suffering a major economic crisis and last year had a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
There are concerns that any shortfall in funding from the World Bank and other donors could derail the economic recovery. This kind of public intervention by the finance ministry is unprecedented in Ghana.
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The recommendation advised Akufo-Addo to postpone signing the bill until the Supreme Court determines its alignment with the constitution. Human rights organizations filed a lawsuit even before parliament passed the bill, but it is expected to take some time before the Supreme Court hears the case.
Under Ghanaian law, the president has seven days from receiving the bill to decide whether to sign it into law. If he chooses not to sign, he has 14 days to provide reasons for his decision. Despite being passed by parliament last Thursday, the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill has not yet been forwarded to the president for his approval.
Akufo-Addo is reported to be holding meetings with key ministries and donors to assess the impact of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill.
The US, UK and human rights groups have already condemned the bill, which was backed by both of Ghana’s two main political parties.
