ACCRA: Ghana’s president has stated he won’t resolve whether or not to signal a controversial anti-LGBTQ invoice into regulation till the Supreme Court docket guidelines on a authorized problem.Final week lawmakers authorized the invoice which seeks to severely curtail LGBTQ rights, drawing condemnation from rights activists regardless of gaining huge help within the conservative West African state.The proposed laws stipulates jail phrases of six months to 3 years for partaking in LGBTQ intercourse and sentences of between three to 5 years for selling or sponsoring LGBTQ actions. The passing of the invoice sparked criticism from a number of international locations together with the USA, in addition to concern from Ghana’s finance ministry, which warned the financially-strapped nation may lose billions of {dollars} in World Financial institution funds.On Monday President Nana Akufo-Addo, who should signal the invoice earlier than it turns into regulation, stated it was “yet to reach my desk”.He stated a citizen had mounted a problem within the Supreme Court docket and declared he would “await the decision of the Court before any action is taken”.It isn’t clear how lengthy this might take, however even earlier than the authorized problem observers believed the president was unlikely to decide forward of a common election in December.In an announcement, Akufo-Addo acknowledged the invoice had “raised considerable anxieties in certain quarters of the diplomatic community and amongst some friends of Ghana” about human rights and the rule of regulation.”I want to assure you that no such backsliding will be contemplated or occasioned,” he stated.Thirty African nations presently ban homosexuality, in keeping with the Worldwide Lesbian, Homosexual, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Affiliation (ILGA).
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