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| Ghanaian MPs reintroduce controversial anti-LGBT bill | Ghanaian MPs reintroduce controversial anti-LGBT bill |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A group of 10 MPs in Ghana have resubmitted a controversial bill that would impose some of the toughest restrictions on LGBT rights in Africa. | |
| The bill prescribes a three-year jail term for people who identify as gay, and five to 10 years for promoters and advocates. | |
| The legislation was passed by parliament last year, but the former president, Akufo Addo, declined to sign it into law before leaving office in January, citing legal challenges. | The legislation was passed by parliament last year, but the former president, Akufo Addo, declined to sign it into law before leaving office in January, citing legal challenges. |
| It has been widely condemned by both local and international human rights groups, with some describing it as draconian. | It has been widely condemned by both local and international human rights groups, with some describing it as draconian. |
| The original bill expired at the end of the previous parliament. It's unclear whether the speaker of the new parliament will admit the bill for consideration. | The original bill expired at the end of the previous parliament. It's unclear whether the speaker of the new parliament will admit the bill for consideration. |
| Gay sex is already punishable by up to three years in prison in the conservative West African country. | Gay sex is already punishable by up to three years in prison in the conservative West African country. |
| President John Dramani Mahama has said he would prefer the bill to be state-sponsored, ensuring broader support and consultation. | President John Dramani Mahama has said he would prefer the bill to be state-sponsored, ensuring broader support and consultation. |
| "I do think that we should have a conversation on it again so that all of us, if we decide to move that bill forward, move it forward with a consensus", he said. | "I do think that we should have a conversation on it again so that all of us, if we decide to move that bill forward, move it forward with a consensus", he said. |
| Supporters claim the legislation would help preserve what they consider to be Ghanaian culture and family values. | Supporters claim the legislation would help preserve what they consider to be Ghanaian culture and family values. |
| However rights groups have decried the legislation as draconian. | |
| "The anti-LGBT rights bill is inconsistent with Ghana's long-standing tradition of peace, tolerance, and hospitality and flies in the face of the country's international human rights obligations," said Human Rights Watch researcher Larissa Kojoué last year. | |
| "Such a law would not only further erode the rule of law in Ghana, but could also lead to further gratuitous violence against LGBT people and their allies." | |
| Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, a Ghanaian trans woman and LGBT activist, told the Reuters news agency the bill's reintroduction was "disheartening and hard to process" but insisted LGBT activism would continue. | Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, a Ghanaian trans woman and LGBT activist, told the Reuters news agency the bill's reintroduction was "disheartening and hard to process" but insisted LGBT activism would continue. |
| The bill's potential impact on Ghana's economy is a significant concern. | The bill's potential impact on Ghana's economy is a significant concern. |
| The country's former finance minister warned that passing the bill could result in Ghana losing up to $3.8bn (£2.9bn) in development funding from the World Bank and affecting its $3 billion (£2.3bn) IMF support programme. | The country's former finance minister warned that passing the bill could result in Ghana losing up to $3.8bn (£2.9bn) in development funding from the World Bank and affecting its $3 billion (£2.3bn) IMF support programme. |
| Opposition lawmaker John Ntim Fordjour told Reuters the country no longer needed to fear economic sanctions, citing the election of US President Donald Trump. | Opposition lawmaker John Ntim Fordjour told Reuters the country no longer needed to fear economic sanctions, citing the election of US President Donald Trump. |
| "The global political climate is favourable for conservative values as demonstrated in the bold conservative pronouncements of President Donald Trump," he said. | "The global political climate is favourable for conservative values as demonstrated in the bold conservative pronouncements of President Donald Trump," he said. |
| The bill was first introduced to parliament in 2021 but has faced many delays. | The bill was first introduced to parliament in 2021 but has faced many delays. |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| Why are different African countries passing anti-LGBT laws? | Why are different African countries passing anti-LGBT laws? |
| Ghana IMF loan: Will $3bn solve the economic crisis? | Ghana IMF loan: Will $3bn solve the economic crisis? |
| Ghana Cardinal Peter Turkson: It's time to understand homosexuality | Ghana Cardinal Peter Turkson: It's time to understand homosexuality |