Ghanaian security analyst and International Relations expert, Farouk Al Wahab, has made a bold assertion that President Akufo-Addo is unlikely to sign the recent anti-LGBTQ+ bill passed by the Parliament of Ghana on February 28, 2024.
In an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Al Wahab expressed his opinion that the decision to sign the bill would be a challenging one for the President.
He emphasized that signing the bill could potentially damage the President’s relationship with international partners, while not signing it could have negative implications for both his political career and that of the NPP. Despite these considerations, Al Wahab firmly believes that President Akufo-Addo will choose not to sign the bill.
The anti-LGBTQ+ bill aims to criminalize LGBTQ+ activities, their promotion, advocacy, and funding within the country. However, Al Wahab took a critical stance against Western countries and diplomats who have threatened to impose sanctions on Ghana for passing the bill.
He described the notion of being threatened by the international community for upholding national values and culture as unprecedented. Al Wahab cited examples of other nations such as Israel, Brunei, Libya, and Morocco, which have implemented laws against LGBTQ+ rights without facing any significant backlash or sanctions.
Questioning why Ghana should succumb to Western pressure, Al Wahab suggested that the country should prioritize strengthening its ties with Asian countries like China and Japan, which are more focused on business relationships rather than human rights issues.
Al Wahab’s perspective offers a thought-provoking analysis of the potential diplomatic implications of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill and raises important questions about Ghana’s stance on international relations. It remains to be seen how President Akufo-Addo will navigate this delicate and sensitive issue in the coming days.
