President John Dramani Mahama has issued a strong warning to multilateral institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, urging them to refrain from influencing Ghana’s domestic policies, particularly on sensitive cultural and social issues such as LGBTQ+ rights.
President Mahama emphasized that the focus of these institutions should remain on their core economic mandates rather than attempting to dictate cultural values in Ghana.
“Multilateral institutions should avoid getting into cultural matters,” President Mahama stated bluntly. “This is a diverse world. We have different cultures.”
His remarks come amid growing speculation that the World Bank and IMF might withhold funding if Ghana passes a revived version of the controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill, which previously expired after facing legal challenges and the lack of presidential assent.
When asked about potential financial repercussions should the bill be enacted, Mahama remained resolute.
"If they decide to pull [funding], well, it’s their prerogative. But I don’t believe that multilateral institutions like the World Bank and IMF should include in their mandates how people behave culturally,” he stated.
Mahama stressed the need for broader stakeholder engagement before any new version of the bill is introduced.
“What we need is more stakeholder consultation to look at whatever new bill will come and make sure that we carry everybody on board,” he explained.
President Mahama underscored that preserving Ghana’s family values should be more about education than legislation.
“Proper family values are something we all are interested in,” Mahama said.
"But it’s not only in the bills that we send to parliament to regulate them, it’s also about teaching our children those family values as they grow.”
Mahama’s firm stance highlights the delicate balance between maintaining Ghana’s cultural identity and navigating the financial pressures exerted by international institutions.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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