MP for Ningo-Prampram and advocate for the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, Sam George, has boldly challenged the West’s economic influence in Africa, particularly in relation to potential sanctions over the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
In an interview on News Central TV, George compared the punishments for same-sex marriage in Nigeria (14 years imprisonment) and Ghana (maximum of 3 years), highlighting that Nigeria has not faced economic collapse despite its stricter laws.
Sam George emphasized the importance of African nations asserting themselves, stating that the American and Western economies rely on Africa’s raw materials, hence any actions against African countries would directly affect their economies.
“Your bill is more punitive than Ghana’s bill. In Nigeria, the punishment in your law for same-sex marriage is 14 years imprisonment. The maximum is Ghana’s is 3 years. Has Nigeria’s economy collapsed. Has Uganda’s economy collapsed?
“We need to begin to stand. The American economy will not run and the western economies will not run without Africa’s raw materials. I think it is time we begin to look at adding value to our own raw materials. Why should Ghanaian cocoa and Nigerian cocoa be traded on the New York stock exchange and not on a Ghanaian stock exchange or Nigerian stock exchange?” he said.
His comments follow sanctions and warnings against some African countries over laws that criminalise homosexual activities.
Ghana’s Parliament has passed the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill also known as the anti-LGBTQ bill after three years following its introduction.
The Anti-LGBTQ+ bill aims to criminalize LGBTQ+ activities in Ghana. It proposes strict penalties, including imprisonment, for individuals engaged in activities related to homosexuality and LGBTQ+ advocacy.
After deliberation, Parliament decided that the minimum custodial sentence has been set at three years, with a maximum of five years for promoters and sympathisers.
Additionally, individuals caught directly engaging in these activities will face a minimum sentence of six months, extendable to a maximum of three years.
In reaction, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has stated that it is monitoring events in Ghana following the passage of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill by Parliament.
In a statement issued by the IMF and reported by Bloomberg, the global lender emphasized that its internal policies prohibit discrimination based on personal characteristics, including gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation.
The IMF noted that, “Diversity and inclusion are values that the IMF embraces.”
Also, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller has indicated that the US government will restrict foreign aid to Ghana if the country approves the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, also known as the anti-LGBT Bill.
Engaging the press, Mr Miller said, “If this bill becomes law, it will only have a chilling effect on investment. For instance, in Ghana, you’ve seen that same chilling effect bear fruit in Uganda, which passed a very similar law in the past. I can say that should the bill pass, it would potentially have ramifications for US assistance in the country.”
Uganda enacted one of the world’s harshest anti-gay laws in May, which calls for the death penalty for certain same-sex acts.
Following this, the country faced sanctions from international communities. The U.S. imposed a first round of visa restrictions on Ugandan officials in response to the law in June 2023, and the World Bank halted new lending to the country in August 2023.