In Accra, Ghana, legislators have reignited efforts to pass an anti-LGBTQ+ bill that managed to receive parliamentary approval last year but failed to become law. The bill stalled when then-President Nana Akufo-Addo, at the conclusion of his term, did not ratify it. He awaited a Supreme Court decision on a legal challenge, which the court subsequently dismissed post-2023 elections.
Ghana has previously maintained a reputation for being more progressive on human rights issues compared to several other African nations, which is why the bill’s passage last year rattled the international community, with entities like the United Nations labeling it as “profoundly disturbing.” While homosexual acts are currently illegal in Ghana and punishable by up to three years in imprisonment, the proposed bill sets forth harsher penalties. It seeks up to five-year prison sentences for individuals engaged in “willful promotion, sponsorship, or support of LGBTQ+ activities.”
With John Dramani Mahama stepping into the presidency this January, he expressed a desire to see the bill move forward. However, he emphasized that the government, rather than parliamentary representatives, should take charge of its reintroduction. Opposition lawmaker John Ntim Fordjour, alongside nine other lawmakers, renewed the bill’s presentation last week and criticized Mahama’s approach. “Parliament is an independent institution that should not be dictated to by the executive branch,” Fordjour remarked.
Proponents of the bill argue it aims to offer protection to children and individuals at risk of abuse. Yet, concerns linger over the potential economic consequences. The Ministry of Finance cautioned last year that proceeding with the legislation could jeopardize $3.8 billion in World Bank funding and might threaten the continuity of a $3 billion bailout agreement from the International Monetary Fund, established in 2023. This comes as Ghana battles to recuperate from the most challenging economic downturn it has faced in recent history.
The World Bank’s stern stance towards countries adopting anti-LGBTQ+ policies was exemplified in 2023. It withdrew considerations for new funding in Uganda after the nation enacted similar legislation, underscoring the significant economic repercussions such bills can provoke.
