A group identifying as Advocates for Christ Ghana (A4CG) has criticised the Ministry of Finance for advising President Akufo-Addo against assenting to the Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Value bill, commonly known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, into law.

The group asserts that the Ministry's counsel lacks a solid foundation and not based on adequate research.

The Ministry of Finance has cautioned President Akufo-Addo against signing the recently passed Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill into law, citing potential adverse consequences for the country's financial support from international organizations such as the Bretton Woods institutions.

• Read also: Don’t assent to Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill – Finance Ministry tells Akufo-Addo

In a statement released on Monday, March 4, the Finance Ministry expressed concerns that the enactment of the bill could jeopardize the disbursement of expected financing, including the US$300 million from the First Ghana Resilient Recovery Development Policy Operation (Budget Support), pending Parliamentary approval.

Additionally, the Ministry highlighted the possibility of suspending ongoing negotiations on the Second Ghana Resilient Recovery Development Policy Operation (Budget Support), also amounting to US$300 million.

The Ministry stressed that such outcomes could lead to a substantial loss of financial resources, creating a financing gap in the 2024 budget.

However, in a subsequent press release issued by Advocates for Christ Ghana (A4CG), the group vehemently opposed the Ministry's advice.

They argued that the Ministry failed to consider available evidence indicating that African and other countries with similar laws have faced no adverse consequences.

"It is our considered opinion after reading the statement from the ministry that, the statement is poorly researched and fails to take into consideration the available evidence showing that African and other countries with similar laws, and even those reflecting harsher punishment for offenders, have continued to have programs with the IMF, the World Bank and other International Financial Institutions (IFIs), with very little disbursement problems."

"It appears that there was insufficient internal consultation, as this brief is uncharacteristic of the professional work the Ministry of Finance usually does," an excerpt of their statement said.

On February 28, 2024, Parliament approved a bill criminalizing LGBTQ activities and prohibiting their promotion, advocacy, and funding.

Under the legislation, individuals convicted of such acts could be sentenced to 6 months to 3 years in prison, while those promoting or sponsoring such activities could face 3 to 5 years behind bars.

The bill's passage has sparked criticism from various stakeholders, including Virginia Evelyn Palmer, the Ambassador of the United States to Ghana.