Video: ‘Are we that cheap? _Kwame Pianim reacts to anti-gay bill
“Are we that cheap? Why are we being threatened with sanctions if we support the anti-gay bill and if President Akufo-Addo assent to the bill? “, Renowned Economist Mr. Kwame Pianim has reprimanded Ghana’s Ministry of Finance for only warning about the financial repercussions of the LGBTQ+ bill after it had already been approved, suggesting that they should have raised their objections during the bill’s debates in parliament.
Kwame Pianim has stated that the anti-gay bill passed by Ghana’s Parliament is not a reflection of the views of the entire Ghanaian population. He believes that sanctions should be directed towards the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, and the Members of Parliament who supported and passed the bill.
In an interview with TV3’s Paa Kwesi Asare on Business Focus on March 5, Mr. Pianim urged the US and other countries to target their sanctions towards those responsible for the bill, rather than punishing the entire country.
He criticized the Ministry of Finance for issuing a warning about the financial implications of the bill after it had already been passed, stating that they should have raised concerns during the bill’s discussions in Parliament.
The Ministry of Finance highlighted potential financial losses for Ghana if the bill is signed into law, including the loss of significant funding from international organizations. Mr. Pianim described the administration’s handling of the situation as incompetent and criticized their lack of proactive action.
He emphasized the importance of involving relevant stakeholders in discussions on bills to avoid negative repercussions and suggested that the President should have intervened before the bill was passed.
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