Lead Researcher of the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill survey conducted by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has refuted claims that the report is to influence the citizens and those opposed to the bill.

Speaking to JoyNews' Evans Mensah on Top Story, Executive Director of ISODEC, Bernard Anaba, clarified that the report seeks to draw the government's attention to the impact of the implementation of the Bill in its current state on the economy.

"It is an advocacy to look at the bill. Whether the bill is inimical, in terms of its economic impact on Ghana. So it is not just to influence in favour of the LGBTQ, but we are looking at the real issues on the ground.

And the facts are that we are so heavily dependent on these same communities who are against this bill," he said on Tuesday.

The survey conducted by CDD-Ghana has found that the passage of the Anti-LGBTQI+ Bill will throw government’s economic agenda off balance.

Mr Anaba's statement is in response to criticisms by MP for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, who claims that CDD's survey is influenced.

According to Sam George, international donor support agencies such as USAID, the European Union, who are supporters of the LGBTQ lifestyle influenced the findings of CDD.

"The US Agency for International Development, Canadian International Development Agencies, the United Nations Development Programme, the German International Development Agency and the European Union fund the CDD and they are all pro-diversity and support LGBTQ+ activities. So the CDD’s work is definitely influenced. He who pays the piper dictates the tune…if they are on the negativity of the bill and their funders and sponsors support the activity that the bill seeks to criminalise, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to you,” the MP said on the show.

But Bernard Anaba has refuted such claims. He admitted that CDD receives support from such bodies, however, the government of Ghana also receives support from such institutions, hence, such claims cannot hold.

"We do get support from all quarters internationally. The government itself gets support from donors. So that is not an issue. I'm not too sure to be specific about the funding source. I'm talking about an organisation. An organisation is engaged in various campaigns."

"It may not be specified because it is coming from a particular source so it influences how the research should go," he added.

To prevent adverse effects on the economy, CDD has urged the government to peruse the bill critically before its implementation or withdraw the bill.

"We expect government to look at the bill properly and as we propose, look at what the impact is going to be. If possible, do a more cost-benefit analysis of the bill on the economy of Ghana to see whether to stand down on the bill or review what it is to improve it, so as not to impact the economy," Mr Anaba stressed.