The Finance Ministry urges President Akufo-Addo to refrain from endorsing the recently passed anti-LGBTQ bill by Parliament.
In a press release dated Monday, March 4, the Ministry warned of significant financial repercussions should the bill be approved. Notably, Ghana could face a considerable reduction in World Bank funding, with an estimated potential loss of USD$3.8 billion over the next five to six years.
Specifically for 2024, this would entail a USD$600 million decrease in budget support and a USD$250 million reduction for the Financial Stability Fund, impacting Ghana’s foreign exchange reserves and exchange rate stability.
The Ministry has also recommended that the President engage with religious bodies to discuss the implications of signing the bill and to establish a robust coalition and framework for supporting key development initiatives.
“The Presidency may have a structured engagement with local conservative forces such as religious bodies and faith-based organisations to communicate the economic implications of the passage of the ‘Anti-LGBTQ’ Bill and to build a stronger coalition and a framework for supporting key development initiative that is likely to be affected.”
It also added that “the President may have to defer assenting to the Bill until the court rules on the legal issues tabled by key national stakeholders (CSOs and CHRAJ).”
[0:45 pm, 04/03/2024] Madam Fati GMA: Electoral Commission unveils Election 2024 calendar: Results expected within three days*
The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced the schedule for the upcoming 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections, setting the stage for a tightly regulated and transparent electoral process.
According to the EC’s calendar, nominations for presidential and parliamentary candidates will be received from September 9 to 13, marking the commencement of the political season’s climax. The crucial balloting for positions on the presidential ballot paper is scheduled for September 23, 2024, followed by parliamentary balloting on September 24, 2024.
One of the most noteworthy aspects of the announcement is that the EC plans to expedite the declaration of the presidential poll results. If all goes according to plan, the EC aims to declare the outcome within three days of the voting exercise, emphasizing efficiency and transparency in the electoral process.
The roadmap outlined by the EC also includes a comprehensive voter registration exercise from May 7 to 27, 2024, along with a nationwide effort to replace missing voter ID cards starting May 30, 2024. Preceding the registration, there will be 56 days of intensive public education from April 1 to May 26, 2024, aimed at ensuring widespread participation and awareness.
The EC also plans to submit the provisional voters’ register to political parties between July 9 and 18, 2024, followed by an exhibition of the register from July 15 to 24, 2024. The final voters’ register is expected to be submitted between August 30 and September 5, 2024, ensuring the integrity and accuracy of voter information.
In addition to these activities, the EC will engage stakeholders through meetings and its “Let the Citizen Know” series, aiming to foster understanding and trust in the electoral process. The commission will also conduct a Special Voting day on December 2, allowing selected professionals, including security agencies and accredited media practitioners, to cast their votes ahead of the main polls on December 7, 2024.
While the EC has set ambitious timelines, sources within the commission emphasized that all dates are subject to review. However, they reiterated the commission’s commitment to ensuring a free, fair, and transparent electoral process, with regional collation centers maintained to announce results at the regional level.
