A court in Ghana has denied a legal challenge to President Nana Akufo-Addo’s decision on the anti-LGBTQ bill.
In February, lawmakers enacted legislation that tightened limits on LGBTQ rights. They want Akufo-Addo to declare it official.
However, the president will not do anything just yet. He wants the two legal cases against the measure to be resolved first. This made several members of parliament unhappy.
One lawmaker, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, was dissatisfied with the delay. He went to court. However, on Monday, the court rejected his challenge. Justice Ellen Lordina Serwaa Mireku stated that forcing Akufo-Addo to act on a bill that is the subject of two legal disputes is not appropriate.
Dafeamekpor’s lawyer intends to appeal. In Ghana, gay intercourse is already illegal and punishable by up to three years in prison.
If this new bill is passed, the punishment will become significantly harsher. It will also make life difficult for LGBTQ people and those who support them.
Supporters want the bill to become law. However, it may have negative consequences for Ghana’s economy. The finance ministry warned that it risked losing billions of dollars in World Bank and IMF support.
When Uganda passed strict anti-LGBTQ legislation in 2023, the World Bank withdrew its funding.
Also Read: Kenya To Lose Trillions If LGBTQ Laws are implemented – Report
