Ghana President Caught in Squabble Over Anti-LGBTQ bill

The endorsement of fresh ministers has been suspended by the speaker of Ghana’s parliament, indicating a deadlock due to President Nana Akufo-Addo’s reluctance to authorize a controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill that was passed last month.

Criticism from international sources has been directed towards Ghana’s “The Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill” due to its perceived infringement on human rights. The anti-LGBTQ+ bill aims to criminalize same-sex relationships and advocacy, and has garnered significant support from religious leaders.

In response to the ongoing legal challenges against the bill, the presidency has called upon parliament to refrain from passing it until these challenges are resolved.

However, a recent development has seen the speaker of parliament block the approval of new ministers, seemingly in retaliation. This action was taken in light of an injunction served by an opposition lawmaker.

Speaker Alban Bagbin declared, “Due to these circumstances, the House is unable to proceed with the consideration of the nominations made by His Excellency the President, in order to uphold the principles of the rule of law.” Consequently, the house has been adjourned indefinitely.

The decision made by the Speaker has impacted the approval of over 20 ministers who were recently appointed by Akufo-Addo after a cabinet reshuffle.

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Moreover, the parliament failed to give approval to crucial bills and loans necessary to support the 2024 budget.

This dispute over the politically sensitive bill arises as Ghana gears up for a closely contested election in December to succeed Akufo-Addo, who will be stepping down after serving two terms.

Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo Markin criticized the Speaker’s position on Thursday, accusing it of trying to undermine the government’s efforts.

Markin stated, “The Speaker’s actions are detrimental to the government’s operations. The repercussions are evident in the potential negative impact on the economy and government affairs.”

Constitutional lawyer Martin Kpebu mentioned that both the President and the Speaker were justified in their stances. Kpebu explained that when there is a legal challenge against a process, it is best to await the court’s decision, indicating that neither party is at fault.

The bill, if enacted, would result in a prison sentence of up to three years for individuals identifying as LGBTQ+ and five years for those promoting and supporting their activities. Despite having the support of a majority of MPs and influential religious leaders, Ghana’s international partners have cautioned against the repercussions if Akufo-Addo signs the bill. The finance ministry highlighted the potential risk of losing World Bank funding totaling $3.8 billion over the next five to six years.

As a major exporter of gold and cocoa, Ghana is currently under a $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program due to its severe economic downturn in 2022, which led to a record 50% inflation rate.