Don’t assent to anti-gay bill –MoF to Akufo-Addo

Ghana’s Ministry of Finance has issued a warning to President Akufo-Addo, urging him not to sign the recently passed Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill into law. They emphasized that doing so could have negative consequences on the financial support Ghana receives from international organizations like the Bretton Woods Institutions.

The Ministry expressed concerns that the approval of the US$300 million financing from the First Ghana Resilient Recovery Development Policy Operation (Budget Support) and ongoing negotiations for the Second Ghana Resilient Recovery Development Policy Operation (Budget Support) could be jeopardized if the bill is signed into law.

To mitigate these potential financial losses, the Ministry suggested that the President engage with religious bodies to discuss the economic implications of the bill and build a strong coalition to support key development initiatives. They recommended deferring the signing of the bill until legal issues raised by national stakeholders are addressed.

On February 28, 2024, Parliament approved a bill criminalizing LGBTQ activities and prohibiting their promotion, advocacy, and funding. The bill has faced criticism from various stakeholders, including the United States Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Evelyn Palmer.

Find the full statement here

Implications of – Anti-LBTQI BILL_240304_082203