Do Not Approve Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill - Finance Ministry Warns Akufo-Addo

-

In an official statement released on Monday, March 4, the Ministry of Finance has issued a cautionary plea to President Akufo-Addo, advising careful consideration before signing the recently passed Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill into law.

The Ministry underscored the potential grave consequences of such a decision on Ghana's financial relationships with international entities like the Bretton Woods Institutions, warning of repercussions that could impede the country's access to vital financial support.

Related To This: National Peace Council Declares Neutral Stance on Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill Passage

Specifically, the press release highlighted the precarious state of anticipated financial aid, such as the awaited US$300 million funding from the First Ghana Resilient Recovery Development Policy Operation (Budget Support), pending Parliamentary approval. 

There are fears that the disbursement of this aid may be jeopardized if the bill is enacted. Moreover, negotiations surrounding the Second Ghana Resilient Recovery Development Policy Operation (Budget Support), amounting to US$300 million, could face suspension in light of the bill's enactment.


The Ministry stressed the potential ramifications of these outcomes, indicating a looming financial shortfall in the 2024 budget if international support is compromised. 

To mitigate these risks, the Ministry recommended an urgent dialogue between the President and religious bodies to deliberate on the implications of signing the bill, fostering a collaborative coalition to support critical development initiatives facing potential setbacks.

Related To This: Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill: Parliament has Democratically Passed a Harsher Bill - Gabby Otchere-Darko

The Finance Ministry proposed, "The Presidency may have a structured engagement with local conservative forces such as religious bodies and faith-based organisations to communicate the economic implications of the passage of the 'Anti-LGBTQ' Bill and to build a stronger coalition and a framework for supporting key development initiative that is likely to be affected."

Related To This: US Ambassador to Ghana Condemns Passage of Anti-LGBT Bill

Additionally, the Ministry suggested a prudent approach for the President, advising a deferral of approval for the bill until legal issues brought forth by key national stakeholders, including Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), are resolved through court deliberations.

Against the backdrop of Parliament's endorsement of the bill on February 28, 2024, which criminalizes LGBTQ activities and bars their promotion, advocacy, and financial backing, the legislation has stirred a wave of criticism from various quarters, including Virginia Evelyn Palmer, the Ambassador of the United States to Ghana.

Read the full text below;
















Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

GJA Calls For Media Blacklist on Yendi MP for Allegedly Assaulting Journalist

-
Image
In response to allegations of assault against Mohammed Aminu M. Alabira, the Northern Regional Correspondent for Citi TV, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has called for a national media boycott of Farouk Aliu Mahama, the Member of Parliament for Yendi. Important industry actors have endorsed the GJA's directive: the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), the Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), and the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA). Related To This: Hawa Koomson Threatens to Sue GJA President Over Assault Allegations The coalition asked all media outlets to uphold Farouk Aliu Mahama's blacklisting till further notice during a joint press conference on Tuesday, February 6. The media professionals were put at serious risk due to the MP's purported connections to those who could potentially pose a threat to journalists. The groups emphasized, "All media houses must refrain from providing any coverage, interviews, or a
Read more

Taxes Now Serve as Punishment to Businesses - Mark Badu-Aboagye

-
Image
The Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry's CEO, Mark Badu-Aboagye, has expressed grave concerns about the growing burden of direct and indirect taxes placed on the country's enterprises.  During an open discussion on JoyNews' PM Express, Mr. Badu-Aboagye brought attention to the mounting difficulties that businesses are facing in light of rising expenses and financial commitments, especially with regard to tax responsibilities. Related To This: Akufo-Addo's Imposed Tax Policies Will Make The Next President Suffer - Franklin Cudjoe Mr. Badu-Aboagye expressed his dismay and emphasized the unsettling consequences of the existing tax structure, describing it as harsh and onerous for companies aiming for expansion and sustainability.  He underlined, saying, "I believe that rather than helping businesses, our taxes now serve as a punishment to them. This is because they expect you to pay, but we are unable to. They are beating us but they are telling us to keep quiet.&
Read more

Use Emission Tax Funds to Support EPA - Professor Kofi Amegah

-
Image
The University of Cape Coast's renowned environmental and nutritional epidemiology lecturer, Professor Kofi Amegah, has suggested that money from emission levies be used to support environmental protection organizations.  During his February 1 appearance on The Pulse on JoyNews, Professor Amegah emphasized how vital it is to improve the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) capacity to efficiently track pollution levels and strengthen environmental conservation measures. Related To This: Implementation of Emissions Levy Act Commences Today Professor Amegah emphasized the need to reallocate a portion of the proceeds from the emission tax in order to relieve the EPA's budgetary constraints, given its limited resources. He highlighted that such support would enable the acquisition of reference-based monitors, which, when installed in urban areas, can furnish essential data vital for formulating effective air pollution control policies. Additionally, the resulting data would
Read more