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Time of India
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ghana pushes anti-LGBTQ+ bill as defense of 'family values'
Representative AI photo Lawmakers in Ghana earlier this month reintroduced an anti-LGBTQ+ bill that was passed by the country's Parliament in February 2024, but not enacted. The legislation, known as the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill , called for prison terms of up to three years for engaging in same-sex sexual relations, and up to five years for those who engage in "willful promotion, sponsorship or support of LGBTQ+ activities. " Ghana's Supreme Court in December rejected two legal bids to block the bill. It ruled that, as outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo had not yet signed the bill into law, it could not be declared unconstitutional. President John Mahama, who took office in January, said he was committed to passing the bill, which had widespread public support in Ghana but was condemned internationally for curtailing LGBTQ+ rights. Living in fear: Ghana's LGBTQ+ reality Abdul-Wadud Mohammed, deputy director of LGBT Rights Ghana , told DW that he grew up in Ghana, but left his homeland because he constantly felt "under threat" there. He told DW that he knew by the age of 10 that he was gay. "I grew up just trying to understand what I am. Everybody who knew me knew that I was gay and that has been my life," Mohammed said, adding that he, like the majority of queer people in Ghana, faces hate and hostility from some Ghanaians due to his sexuality. He is not alone. "I personally witnessed someone being killed for being gay," a bisexual man, speaking on condition of anonymity, told DW. "A traumatic event that underscored the extreme danger I face." He too fled Ghana for his safety. Musician Wanlov the Kubolor fights for equal rights A survey published by Afrobarometer in 2021 showed that Ghanaians are united and hospitable — but a majority are intolerant towards same-sex relationships. Some 93% of Ghanaians questioned said they "somewhat dislike" or "strongly dislike" having people in same-sex relationships as neighbors, placing the country near the top in terms of intolerance across 23 African countries in the study. What started the anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination? During a radio interview in 2006, Prince Kweku McDonald, president of the Gay and Lesbians Association of Ghana (GALAG), spoke about an upcoming conference of gay and lesbian people in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, and other venues across the country. The government said at the time that they would not allow such an event to take place — a move that drew applause from many Ghanaians. Some human rights activists believe that it was a watershed moment for curtailing the rights of LGBTQ+ people in Ghana. "Growing up, we could not even talk about sex between a man and a woman, much more to talk about LGBT rights ... it was a disruption of what we considered the harmonious heteronormative society we had carved for ourselves," Dr. Michael Akagbor, a senior research fellow at the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD), said. Now, almost two decades later, sponsors of the bill have said that it seeks to protect children and people who are victims of abuse. Protecting family values or sanctioning hate? "My position is that that bill is a critical part of our national life. Ghanaian family values, our children's innocence must be protected," lead proponent of the bill, Samuel George, told the Parliament Appointment Committee. Ghana's Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, said he is determined to see the anti-LGBTQ+ bill passed into law this year. "It [homosexuality] is ungodly, and I will not tolerate any jokes on this matter," he said. However, the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD), a think tank working to advance democracy, said that the conversation on family values should be put in the context of societal good rather than what the majority abhors. "What does family value really mean? … Is corruption a family value? Is it something we should be proud of? Look at how corrupt our state actors are becoming, who is teaching them the values of corruption?" asked Michael Akagbor, the CDD's senior programs officer. Emmanuel Allotey, head pastor at Ghana's Amazing Light Christian Centre said that he opposes the legislation. "It's a congenital issue and I don't think anyone should be blamed for its outcomes. It's rather unfortunate you find religious leaders show hostility on our people who are affected," Allotey told DW. "True Christianity will tolerate our brothers and sisters affected." But some Ghanaians, like Abdul Mutalib Issah, a resident of Accra, think otherwise. "If we have to leave everybody to do what they wish to do, it might cause crisis," he told DW. Ghana's battle for LGBTQ+ rights May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia , Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), an annual celebration to raise awareness about discrimination and violence faced by LGBTQ+ people. This year's theme is "No one left behind: equality, freedom and justice for all." The CDD believes the only way Ghana can end this long battle is for the country to consider any legislation against the sexuality of a minority group as a repression of their rights. "We will use all the necessary legal avenues to challenge the bill" our position has not changed; we still have the arsenal of using the court to right the wrong," Michael told DW. Twenty years after discovering his sexuality, Abdul-Wadud said: "I wish that we will get to a point where people love each other not because of an inherent hate that was implanted or socialized in them but from a deeper beautiful place." As the country awaits what will become of the bill, many members of Ghana's queer community live in constant fear of what the future may hold for them.
New York Times
03-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Ghana Wanted a Cathedral. It Got an ‘Expensive Hole' Instead.
The walls surrounding Ghana's national cathedral are aging plywood. Its spires are yellow construction cranes, which have not moved in years. It frequently reverberates with singing — the singing of a choir of frogs that moves in whenever the cathedral's half-finished foundations fill with rainwater. Ghana's former president, Nana Akufo-Addo, spent around $58 million of public money on the $400 million cathedral project — a huge sum in this debt-saddled West African country. The new finance minister said in March that Ghana's economy was in 'severe distress.' The cathedral was designed by the celebrity architect David Adjaye. But beyond the blueprints, there is very little to show for the money. 'They have only dug a hole — a big hole,' Praise Chinedu, a student and a Pentecostal Christian, said last month. A well-thumbed Bible tucked under his arm, he was emerging from a morning service at Pure Fire Miracles Ministries onto a street humming with churchgoers, ice cream vendors and clamoring children. His brother John, who had been buying anointing oil, sidled up. 'God is not going to be happy,' he said. AFRICA 500 miles GUINEA NIGERIA ghana Accra CAMEROON Atlantic Ocean IVORY COAST 1 mile Accra ring rd. E. independence ave. National cathedral site Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City Accra Accra City Hotel ghana Gulf of Guinea Map data from OpenStreetMap By The New York Times Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
BBC News
11-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Key takeaways from President John Mahama first budget as goment scrap betting tax, covid 19 levy and odas
Ghana President John Mahama im finance minister don present di goment budget for di 2025 fiscal year. Dr. Casiel Ato Forson wey use 1h 45 minutes take present di budget for di house of parliament, tok say "dis budget go reset di kontri economy afta di former goment don scata everything." "Dis na budget of growth and prosperity wey go make di economy bounce back." Bifor dis budget presentation, many pipo bin expect say di goment go abolish some of di taxes wey dem promise for dia campaign. Di finance minister Dr Casiel Ato Forson visit markets wia im engage traders and young pipo on top social media about wetin dem wan see for di budget. Some sectors of di economy get plenti budget allocation, and di finance minister also announce say dem abolish some taxes. A total of GHS 290bn ($19bn) na di budget allocation for di fiscal year 2025. Dis na some of di key tins di minster tok for di budget. Goment abolish 10% betting tax, 1% covid 19 levy and odas For di election campaign, NDC bin promise to remove plenty taxes wey Nana Akufo-Addo bin introduce wey affect di ordinary pipo. Di finance minister announce say goment don remove di 10% tax wey di former goment introduce on top bet winnings and lottery. Dr Casiel Ato Forson also bin announce say dem remove 1% electronic transaction levy – one tax wey dem dey charge for every e-cash transaction on top pipo dia mobile money wallet. At di time di former goment bin introduce di levy for 2022, many pipo dey against am, but di goment under President Nana Akufo-Addo go ahead and dem pass am even though some lawmakers carry di matter go court. Anoda tax wey di goment bin remove na di 1% covid 19 levy wey di citizens bin dey pay till now even afta di pandemic don end for 2021. For February 2024, goment been pass di emission levy wey dem dey collect from GHS 75 ($6; £4) for tricycle and motorcycle to GHS 300 ($24) for cars wey get 3,000cc or higher. Dis na annual levy for di carbon emissions wey petrol or diesel cars for di kontri dey produce. But di finance minister for dis budget tok say goment don remove dis tax as well. Oda taxes wey di goment remove na VAT on top motor vehicle insurance and 1.5% withholding tax on top unprocessed gold by small scale miners. All dis, according to di finance minister Dr Casiel Ato Forson "go help reduce di pressure on pipo and dia households and also make di economy bounce back." Goment allocate moni for infrastructure, free sanitary pads for girls and di free senior high school policy Inside di budget, goment set aside ogbonge amount of GHS 13.85bn ($894m) for wetin dem call "big push" infrastructure agenda. Dis na to construct various infrastructure projects across di kontri. Di oda sector wey get plenti moni na di health sector – wey get GHS 9.9bn ($641m) wey dem allocate to di national health insurance scheme wey go provide free healthcare to di citizens. Di goment bifor dem win elections don tok say dem go review di free senior high school policy wey di former goment bin introduce. Di policy don get plenti wahala as many schools dey suffer to feed di students. Goment for dis year don allocate GHS 3.5bn ($226m) for di free senior high school policy wia dem also provide GHS 51.3m ($3.3m) as seed moni for di goment agenda to set up women's development bank wey go help women get loans to do dia business. Below na di oda allocations for oda line items and sectors for di 2025 budget. Goment reintroduce road tolls In 2021, goment abolish road tolls across di kontri, at di time, dem tok say dem go introduce di electronic transaction levy (e-levy) wey go compensate di moni dem go lose for di road tolls. Di roads minister at di time Oga Amoako-Atta tok say dem neva go collect tolls, na so pipo wit disabilities wey bin dey work for dis toll booths don lose dia jobs since den. Goment tok at di time say dem go find oda jobs for dis PWDs wey bin dey unemployed afta dem cancel di road tolls. But afta four years, many PWDs still dey unemployed. Di new goment tok say dem go carry di road tolls come back. Finance minister Dr Casiel Ato Forson tok say goment dey introduce di road tolls again, dis time dem go do am wit technology. "We go use technology take collect di tolls and we go dey transparent and efficient as we dey collect dis tolls," Dr Ato Forson tok for parliament. Di minister tok say dis na anoda source of revenue for di kontri at a time dem dey try to revive di economy. Goment say dem go cut expenditure Di NDC bin dey tok since dem win di December 2024 elections say dem go appoint small goment so dem no go spend plenti money for ministers and deputy ministers. President John Mahama promise say im go appoint only 60 ministers and deputy ministers wey compare to ova 100 ministers for di former goment. Di finance minister tok for parliament say, dis small goment size don save di taxpayer plenti money wey go also "cut wastage and leakage for di system." As part of tins to reduce expenditure, di finance minister don announce say goment dey abolish policies wey di former NPP goment don introduce like di one district, one factory (1D 1V) programme, di Youstart programme wey be policy di former goment tok say dem dey give money to entrepreneurs to do dia business) and odas. Goment expect to grow by 4.4% On Monday 10 March 2025, Ghana statistical service bin tok say di kontri real growth for di year 2024 na 5.7% even though di target for di budget for dat year na 3.1% wey di former goment revise to 4%. Di 2024 growth rate na improvement from 2023 when di kontri record 2.9% growth and 1.5% for 2022. But di finance minister tok say goment dey project to record growth rate of 4.4% wia non-oil GDP also dey expected to grow higher of 5.3%. Dis growth target according to di minister dey based on several macroeconomic strategies and revenue wey di goment wan collect. Di finance minister also tok say later dis year, goment go present dia ogbonge 24-hour economy policy wey go make businesses run three shifts to employ many pipo, for parliament.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers in Ghana reintroduce an anti-LGBTQ+ bill that sparked criticism
ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — Lawmakers in Ghana have reintroduced an anti-LGBTQ+ bill that was passed by parliament last year but not enacted, a sponsor told The Associated Press on Monday. Former President Nana Akufo-Addo did not sign the bill into law last year before his term ended, saying he was waiting until the Supreme Court ruled on a challenge to it. The court dismissed the challenge in December, shortly after Akufo-Addo lost his bid for another term. Ghana has generally been considered more respectful of human rights than most African countries, and the bill sparked condemnation from the international community and rights groups when it passed last year, with the United Nations calling it 'profoundly disturbing.' See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Gay sex is illegal in the West African country, carrying a three-year prison sentence. The bill if enacted would impose up to five years in prison for those who engage in 'willful promotion, sponsorship or support of LGBTQ+ activities.' President John Dramani Mahama, who took office in January, said last week he was committed to passing the bill but it should be reintroduced by the government rather than members of parliament. Opposition lawmaker John Ntim Fordjour told the AP that he and nine other lawmakers reintroduced the bill last week, and criticized the president. 'He must be reminded that parliament is an independent institution and that the executive cannot dictate to parliament what it must do," Fordjour said. Sponsors of the bill have said it seeks to protect children and people who are victims of abuse. Ghana's Ministry of Finance warned last year that the bill would put $3.8 billion in World Bank funding at risk and likely would derail the $3 billion International Monetary Fund bailout program agreed to in 2023. Ghana's economy is recovering from its worst recession in decades. In 2023, the World Bank said it would not consider new funding for Uganda after it enacted anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
Associated Press
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Lawmakers in Ghana reintroduce an anti-LGBTQ+ bill that sparked criticism
ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — Lawmakers in Ghana have reintroduced an anti-LGBTQ+ bill that was passed by parliament last year but not enacted, a sponsor told The Associated Press on Monday. Former President Nana Akufo-Addo did not sign the bill into law last year before his term ended, saying he was waiting until the Supreme Court ruled on a challenge to it. The court dismissed the challenge in December, shortly after Akufo-Addo lost his bid for another term. Ghana has generally been considered more respectful of human rights than most African countries, and the bill sparked condemnation from the international community and rights groups when it passed last year, with the United Nations calling it 'profoundly disturbing.' Gay sex is illegal in the West African country, carrying a three-year prison sentence. The bill if enacted would impose up to five years in prison for those who engage in 'willful promotion, sponsorship or support of LGBTQ+ activities.' President John Dramani Mahama, who took office in January, said last week he was committed to passing the bill but it should be reintroduced by the government rather than members of parliament. Opposition lawmaker John Ntim Fordjour told the AP that he and nine other lawmakers reintroduced the bill last week, and criticized the president. 'He must be reminded that parliament is an independent institution and that the executive cannot dictate to parliament what it must do,' Fordjour said. Sponsors of the bill have said it seeks to protect children and people who are victims of abuse. Ghana's Ministry of Finance warned last year that the bill would put $3.8 billion in World Bank funding at risk and likely would derail the $3 billion International Monetary Fund bailout program agreed to in 2023. Ghana's economy is recovering from its worst recession in decades.
