Ghana’s President has announced a delay in deciding whether to sign a contentious anti-LGBTQ bill into law until the country’s Supreme Court delivers its verdict on a legal challenge mounted against it.
The bill, which was approved by lawmakers last week, aims to restrict LGBTQ rights significantly, eliciting condemnation from human rights activists despite garnering widespread support in the conservative West African nation.
Under the proposed legislation, individuals engaging in LGBTQ sexual activities could face jail terms ranging from six months to three years, while those found promoting or sponsoring LGBTQ activities could be sentenced to three to five years in prison.
The passage of the bill has triggered criticism from various countries, including the United States, and has raised concerns within Ghana’s finance ministry, which warned of potential financial repercussions, potentially leading to the loss of billions of dollars in World Bank funds.
President Nana Akufo-Addo, who holds the authority to sign the bill into law, stated on Monday that the legislation had not yet reached his desk. He cited a citizen’s legal challenge in the Supreme Court and declared his intention to await the court’s decision before taking any action.
Although the timeline for the court’s ruling remains uncertain, observers had already speculated that the president was unlikely to make a decision ahead of the general election scheduled for December.
In a statement addressing the bill’s controversial nature, President Akufo-Addo acknowledged the concerns raised by certain quarters of the diplomatic community and friends of Ghana regarding human rights and the rule of law. He reassured that Ghana would not backtrack on these principles.
According to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), thirty African nations currently have laws banning homosexuality.
