Ghana’s parliament is in a deadlock over the approval of new ministers due to a dispute regarding a recently passed anti-LGBTQ+ bill. The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has halted the appointments in an apparent attempt to pressure President Nana Akufo-Addo to sign the legislation into law.
The bill, which criminalises same-sex relationships and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, has caused friction between the presidency and the legislature. While the legislation enjoys support from both major political parties and some religious leaders, President Akufo-Addo has expressed reservations, citing ongoing legal challenges and potential international repercussions.
The President has requested that parliament withhold sending the bill for his assent until the courts settle the legal disputes surrounding its passage. Mr. Bagbin, however, has condemned this move as “contemptuous” and argues that the President is obligated to accept the legislation according to Ghana’s constitutional and statutory provisions.
In response to the President’s delay, Mr. Bagbin has blocked the approval of new ministerial appointments nominated by President Akufo-Addo last month. This has been met with mixed reactions within the parliament. Minority leader Cassiel Ato Forson supports the Speaker’s decision, whereas the majority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, finds it “disappointing” and lacking proper consultation.
The main opposition leader, John Mahama, has also weighed in, criticising the presidency’s attempt to halt the bill’s progress as unconstitutional.
The legislation, titled “The Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill,” proposes a jail sentence of up to three years for identifying as LGBTQ+ and five years for promoting LGBTQ+ activities. It has garnered backing from influential religious figures but has drawn condemnation from human rights groups and Western nations.
President Akufo-Addo, while previously indicating a willingness to sign the bill based on popular sentiment, now appears to be seeking to balance domestic pressures with Ghana’s international standing. The country is grappling with a significant economic crisis and recently secured a bailout from the International Monetary Fund. The finance ministry has warned that the anti-LGBTQ+ bill could jeopardize up to $3.8 billion in World Bank funding over the next few years.
With Ghana’s presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for December, it is improbable that the Supreme Court will deliver a verdict on the bill before the polls. The current stalemate between the executive and legislature over the controversial legislation is likely to persist in the coming months.
