Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) has asked President Akufo-Addo to assent to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, also known as the anti-gay bill.
According to GPPC, the bill will help in no small means in upholding the values that are important to Ghanaians.
Ghanaians have overwhelmingly expressed their approval of the bill’s passage by their members of Parliament (MPs).
Parliament on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, okayed the anti-gay bill, which criminalises and prohibits LGBT activities in the country.
The approval by Parliament, however, has drawn criticisms from various quarters, including prominent figures like the Board Chair of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, and the United States Ambassador, H.E. Virginia Evelyn Palmer.
But in a statement, the GPPC praised the private sponsors of the bill, the Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values, and all others who contributed to its success.
The statement also acknowledged the various roles played by people including the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, MPs and the Attorney General’s Office in ensuring the passage of the bill.
To cap it all, the GPCC called on the President to sign the bill, stressing the need to uphold Ghana’s unique cultural and family values.
As a Faith-Based Organisation (FBO), the GPCC expressed gratitude to everyone who has contributed in, diverse ways, to the passage of the bill, and expressed solidarity with other religious bodies in celebrating the feat.
“We in the GPCC recognised that the long period in the deliberations helped in clarifying and strengthening various aspects of the Bill,” the statement
…Like every nation, Ghana is defined by her unique cultural and family values,” it averred.
Meanwhile, following the passage of the bill, the IMF has subtly expressed its concerns.
The IMF in a statement highlighted that its internal policies bar discrimination and that it was closely monitoring the situation in Ghana.
“Diversity and inclusion are values that the IMF embraces. Our internal policies prohibit discrimination based on personal characteristics, including but not limited to gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation. As institutions, diverse and inclusive economies flourish,” the IMF statement emphasized.
Ghana has been seeking a bailout from the IMF following an economic downturn. The first and second tranches have hit the Bank of Ghana’s account. However, with the passage of the Bill, Ghana’s prospects of securing the third tranche have become uncertain.
Those found guilty could face a jail term ranging from 6 months to 3 years, while those promoting and sponsoring the act could face a jail term between 3 to 5 years.
On January 23, the Bank of Ghana (BOG) confirmed the receipt of US$600 million as the second tranche of Ghana’s bailout package with the IMF.
The funds, intended for budget support and stabilization of the local currency, were officially credited to the Central Bank’s account.
So far, Ghana has received a total of US$ 1.2 billion out of the $3 billion approved under the three-year extended credit facility in May of the previous year.
According to the IMF, Ghana has shown good performance under the programme, with reforms yielding positive results and signs of economic stabilization becoming evident.
All other things being equal, Ghana’s next IMF programme review is scheduled to take place in a few months for the third tranche of approximately US$ 360 million.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com
