By Africa Links 24
Published on 2024-03-06 14:05:39
There is uncertainty surrounding the potential enactment of Ghana’s anti-LGBT+ law by the parliament, as the country’s finance ministry has indicated opposition to it and President Nana Akufo-Addo has stated that he will wait for a Supreme Court ruling on its constitutionality.
The bill, which was passed by the Ghanaian parliament last week, proposes prison sentences of up to three years for individuals identifying as LGBT+ and five years for those involved in “promoting” LGBT+ activities. However, economic policymakers and human rights activists are hopeful that the legislation can be blocked.
Leaked documents from Ghana’s finance ministry suggest that the implementation of the law could jeopardize $3.8 billion of World Bank funding over the next five to six years. This would lead to significant budget cuts, including a reduction of $600 million in the 2024 budget and $250 million in the Financial Stability Fund, aimed at providing liquidity to Ghanaian banks and improving macroeconomic stability.
Ghana is already facing economic challenges, having defaulted on almost all its foreign debt in December 2022. The country is currently part of a $3 billion IMF program, from which a second tranche worth $600 million was disbursed in January. The receipt of this funding was expected to unlock an additional $550 million in World Bank funding.
If Ghana loses future World Bank assistance, it would likely create further economic turmoil. The World Bank has previously cut off funding to African countries that it believes are regressing on human rights. While no official statement has been made regarding Ghana’s anti-LGBT+ bill, the potential consequences on foreign exchange reserves, exchange rate stability, and debt restructuring have been highlighted by the finance ministry.
President Akufo-Addo has stated that he will not sign the bill into law until the Supreme Court rules on its constitutionality, a process that could take several months. Despite previously indicating he would support the bill if it had majority backing, he now emphasizes that no human rights violations will be tolerated in Ghana.
Amnesty International’s country director for Ghana, Genevieve Partington, is optimistic that the bill will be blocked, as both the president and his government seem to oppose it. She notes the opposition from government institutions such as the Ministry of Finance, Office of the Attorney General, and the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice.
While the potential law has not yet been enacted, there have already been reports of increased discrimination and violence against LGBT+ individuals in Ghana. Partington expresses concerns that passing this bill could set a dangerous precedent and lead to a wider anti-LGBT+ trend in West Africa, as Ghana has traditionally been a leader in the region for human rights.
In conclusion, the fate of Ghana’s anti-LGBT+ law remains uncertain, with economic implications and human rights concerns at stake. President Akufo-Addo’s decision to await the Supreme Court ruling indicates a cautious approach to the legislation, while activists like Genevieve Partington continue to advocate for the rights of LGBT+ individuals in the country.
