The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama has stated the Western world is pressuring African countries to legalize LGBTQ+ in their countries.
According to John Mahama the Arab nations are not subjected to this pressure due to them not being dependent on the West for grants and loans.
During John Mahama’s meeting with the clergy in the Ashanti region, he is quoted to have said, “Arab nations are not subjected to pressure from the West to legalize LGBTQ rights because unlike us (Africans) they don’t rely on the West for grants and loans”.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s parliament has passed a new bill that imposes a prison sentence of up to three years for anyone convicted of identifying as LGBTQ+.
It also imposes a maximum five-year jail term for forming or funding LGBTQ+ groups.
One of the leading sponsors of the LGBTQ bill Sam George has also revealed it has been 8 months since parliament passed the legislation, but President Akufo-Addo has refused to assent to the bill.