World Bank, IMF has not officially written to Ghana over anti LGBTQ+ bill – Sam George

Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram constituency, Sam George, has vehemently criticized President Akufo-Addo, accusing him of stalling the bill’s passage into law under the false pretext of potential IMF funding repercussions.

George asserts that a purported communique from the Finance Ministry, suggesting that the President might withhold assent to avoid harming Ghana’s access to IMF funds, is baseless and fabricated.

“There is absolutely no official communication from the IMF stating that they are withholding funding because of the bill. I’m challenging the government to provide the official communique; there is none,” Sam George declared on TV3, refuting the alleged connection between the Anti-LGBTQ+ bill and international funding concerns.

President Akufo-Addo, responding to international concerns, assured the diplomatic community that Ghana remains committed to upholding human rights.

Speaking at a diplomatic event, he acknowledged the anxieties but emphasised that Ghana’s reputation for respecting human rights and the rule of law would not be compromised.

A circular from the Director of Communications at the office of the President, Eugene Arhin, reiterated the President’s stance, asserting, “l am aware that last week’s bi-partisan passage by Parliament of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, on a Private Member’s motion, has raised considerable anxieties in certain quarters of the diplomatic community and amongst some friends of Ghana that she may be turning her back on her, hitherto, enviable, long standing record on human rights observance and attachment to the rule of law. I want to assure you that no such back-sliding will be contemplated or occasioned.”

Watch video below:

For proponents of the anti-LGBTQ bill, the president is only clutching on to straws to avoid the assent of the bill.

Sam George tells TV3 that the President's action in the face of similar constitutional functions negates his excuses.#NewsCentral pic.twitter.com/qaz0mlmbJJ

— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) March 5, 2024