Ghana’s parliament has resubmitted an anti-LGBTQ bill to President Nana Akufo-Addo for his signature, despite an order to wait until the Supreme Court rules on the bill’s constitutionality.
The president had previously declined to receive the bill, which proposes up to three years of imprisonment for individuals who identify as LGBTQ, insisting on a legal review first.
The bill also increases penalties, imposing a prison sentence of up to five years for the “wilful promotion, sponsorship, or support of LGBTQ+ activities”. His endorsement would be the final step required for the bill to become law, Bloomberg reported.
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin had directed the bill’s resubmission, asserting that “both the president and the judiciary have sinned against the Constitution” by obstructing its progress.
Last month, hundreds gathered in Accra to urge the Supreme Court to expedite the passage of the anti-LGBTQ legislation. If approved, the law would not only heighten discrimination against LGBTQ individuals but also criminalize friends or family members who fail to report them.
If enacted into law, the bill has the potential to result in a loss of $3.8 billion in World Bank financing over the next five to six years, thereby jeopardizing a $3 billion IMF loan package, as indicated by the finance ministry.
Africa faces global pushback on anti-LGBTQ policies
The LGBTQ bill has drawn sharp criticism from both the United States and Amnesty International, as Ghana joins the ranks of African nations implementing strict anti-LGBTQ legislation.
Uganda implemented a similar measure last year, but even with more severe penalties, including life imprisonment and the death penalty. The country has since faced serious economic sanctions from different quarters.
