The president of Ghana has announced a delay in deciding whether to sign a contentious anti-LGBTQ bill into law, pending the Supreme Court’s ruling on a legal challenge.
The recently approved bill, which aims to restrict LGBTQ rights, has faced criticism from activists despite receiving widespread support in the conservative West African state.
The proposed legislation outlines jail terms of six months to three years for engaging in LGBTQ activities and sentences of three to five years for promoting or sponsoring such activities. The bill’s passage drew condemnation from various countries, including the United States, and raised concerns within Ghana’s finance ministry about potential losses in World Bank funds.
President Nana Akufo-Addo, responsible for signing the bill into law, stated on Monday that it had not yet reached his desk. He noted a citizen’s legal challenge in the Supreme Court and declared his intention to “await the decision of the Court before any action is taken.”
While the duration of this process remains unclear, observers had anticipated that the president would likely postpone a decision until after the general election in December. In a statement, Akufo-Addo acknowledged the bill’s impact on human rights and the rule of law, expressing reassurance that no regression in these areas would occur.
According to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), thirty African nations currently prohibit homosexuality.
