A SENIOR official within Ghana’s presidency has urged parliament to withhold transmitting the controversial anti-LGBTQ bill to President Akufo-Addo, citing ongoing legal challenges. The legislation, unanimously passed by lawmakers in February, has sparked international concern and could impact significant financial support for the country.
‘In the circumstances, you are kindly requested to cease from transmitting the bill to the president until the matters before the Supreme Court are resolved,’ said Nana Asante Bediatuo, Secretary to the President, in a letter to the Clerk of Parliament.
The bill, aimed at tightening restrictions on LGBTQ rights and activism in Ghana, could jeopardise about $3.8bn in World Bank financing earmarked for Ghana over the next few years, potentially derailing a crucial $3bn IMF loan package, according to the finance ministry.
‘The Attorney General and Minister of Justice have advised against immediate action on the bill, signalling the legal complexities surrounding its implementation,’ Bediatuo added.
‘The passage of this bill has already complicated life for sexual minorities in Ghana,’ said Angel Maxine, a Ghanaian trans woman and activist who fled to Berlin. ‘I fear for the safety of my friends still in Ghana,’ she told Reuters, highlighting the real-world consequences of such legislation.
Internationally, the United States has voiced deep concerns over the bill’s implications. ‘We urge a review of its constitutionality,’ said a spokesperson, reflecting broader criticism from human rights advocates.
Even the IMF has weighed in, with Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva emphasising the importance of inclusivity for Ghana’s prosperity during her recent visit to the country.
As legal battles continue and international scrutiny intensifies, the fate of Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ bill remains uncertain, underscoring the complex intersection of human rights, legal frameworks, and international relations in the modern era.
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