The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has refrained from providing comments on the recently passed anti LGBTQI+ bill in Parliament. The bill has not yet been signed into law by President Akufo-Addo. The IMF stated that it has not conducted an economic and financial evaluation of the law’s impact on the country.
In response to questions from JOYBUSINESS, the IMF Headquarters in Washington DC USA highlighted their internal policies against discrimination based on personal characteristics, including gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation. They emphasized that diverse and inclusive economies tend to thrive.
The Ministry of Finance has advised President Akufo-Addo against assenting to the bill, citing potential serious financial challenges for the country. Concerns were raised about the risk of losing over $3 billion in funding from the World Bank for various programs and projects. While there are no direct conditions in the IMF-ECF Programme related to the bill’s passage, the Ministry pointed out the importance of predictable financing from development partners like the World Bank for the current IMF program.
The Finance Ministry also expressed worries about potential market reactions that could affect the stability of the exchange rate. The IMF reiterated its internal policies against discrimination and emphasized the need for further assessment of the bill’s economic and financial implications before making any comments. They are closely monitoring the situation in Ghana.
