Ghanaian Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia stated that he would sign a bill criminalizing homosexuality while addressing supporters at a rally for the occasion of the upcoming elections in Takoradi on Sunday.
The draft law provides for a three-year prison sentence for anyone who is involved in "LGBT propaganda." The bill has been the subject of legal challenges by citizens, raising questions about its constitutionality.
The Finance Ministry has previously warned that the proposed legislation could jeopardize Ghana's access to vital financial support from the World Bank and IMF, putting billions of dollars in funding at risk and potentially derailing the country's debt restructuring plans.
The fate of the bill hinges on the Supreme Court's ruling on its constitutionality. If it is deemed constitutional, Vice President Bawumia pledged to automatically sign it into law, making it official. However, the president retains the power to reject the bill or seek additional advice from the Council of State.
Apart from that, Bawumia pledged to cut government spending by 3% of GDP to meet IMF program requirements, which call for Ghana to post a primary surplus after years of deficits. This fiscal discipline is expected to help stabilize the economy and pave the way for economic growth.
Bawumia has also vowed to invest in Ghana's transition to clean energy, with plans to purchase 100 electric-powered transit buses this year and install 2,000 megawatts of solar energy over the next four years.
Ghana's presidential election is scheduled for December 7. The two main candidates are incumbent Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, representing the New Patriotic Party, and former President John Dramani Mahama, representing the opposition National Democratic Congress.
* The "LGBT movement" is classified as extremist by the Russian authorities and is banned in Russia.