The Dean of the University of Cape Coast Business School, Professor John Gatsi, has raised concerns over the Finance Ministry’s recommendation to the President not to sign the recently passed anti-LGBTQ+ bill into law, calling it a form of lobbying.
Professor Gatsi emphasized that there is no explicit clause in any agreement with the International Monetary Fund that would be breached by Ghana enacting such legislation. He also pointed out that there is no powerful advocacy group capable of influencing the President’s decision on the bill.
He suggested that the Finance Ministry’s warning about potential financial repercussions from international organizations like the Bretton Woods Institutions if the bill is signed into law is more of a lobbying tactic than a legal requirement. He stated that development funding from institutions like the World Bank is not contingent on Ghana’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues.
The Finance Ministry’s caution about the potential consequences of signing the bill, including the withholding of a US$300 million financing facility, was seen by Professor Gatsi as an attempt to pressure the President into not signing the bill. He highlighted that the President had previously expressed that he had not observed significant advocacy or pressure from the LGBTQ+ community in Ghana.
In summary, Professor John Gatsi views the Finance Ministry’s recommendation as a lobbying effort rather than a necessary action based on legal or financial obligations. He believes that the decision to sign the anti-LGBTQ+ bill into law should not be influenced by external pressures but should be based on the interests and values of the Ghanaian people.
