Politics

Ghana: President Akufo-Addo yet to receive anti-LGBTQ bill

Published

2 months ago

March 5, 2024

President Nana Akufo-Addo has stated that an anti-LGBTQ bill that was voted on by Ghana’s parliament last week has not yet reached his desk.

Although the president maintained that Ghana would not renege on its human rights record in his initial remarks following the bill’s passage, he also mentioned that the bill had been challenged at the Supreme Court.

The country’s ministry of finance warned on Tuesday that if it became law, the measure might sabotage foreign aid for the West African nation.

“I have learned that, today, a challenge has been mounted at the Supreme Court,” Akufo-Addo said in a statement.

“In the circumstances, it would be as well for all of us to hold our hands and await the decision of the Court before any action is taken,” he added.

According to a document quoted by Reuters on Monday, the finance ministry stated that if the bill was passed, it may result in a loss of $3.8 billion in World Bank financing over the next five to six years, derailing a $3 billion IMF loan package.

The bill would become law only if President Akufo-Addo signed it. The measure that will tighten the crackdown on the rights of LGBTQ identities and those who support them was unanimously approved by lawmakers on February 28.

There are strict laws in place in a number of African nations that discriminate against individuals who identify as LGBTQ. Hakainde Hichilema, the president of Zambia, issued a warning to supporters of the LGBTQ movement last year, urging them to stop endorsing homosexuality and insisting that the nation “maintain laws that abhor alien orientations like gayism and lesbianism.”

Legislator Sam George of Ghana has also been outspokenly critical of the group; he recently criticised the US Vice President for her support of African acceptance of the LGBTQ community.

In 2006, South Africa became the first and remains the only African country to legalize same-sex marriage, with a constitution that also protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation. Others, like Angola, Mozambique, Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius and Seychelles all have laws in favour of the community in Africa.

South Africa, which has a constitution that forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation, was the first and only African nation to legalise same-sex marriage in 2006. Others, such as the laws of Angola, Mozambique, Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius, and the Seychelles, are favourable to the African community.

Related Topics:Featured Ghana LGBTQ President Akufo

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Politics

Niger’s Prime Minister claims Benin’s oil export blockage breaches accords

Published

14 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Niger’s Prime Minister, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, has claimed that Benin’s suspension of Niger’s oil shipments, imposed in reaction to a border shutdown, breached bilateral trade agreements as well as those with Niger’s Chinese partners.

Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine said on Saturday that Benin’s blockade of Niger’s oil exports, imposed in response to a border closure, violated trade agreements between the two countries and with Niger’s Chinese partners.

Speaking at a press conference in the capital Niamey, Zeine said Niger could not fully reopen its border with Benin for security reasons, in comments that escalate a dispute that saw Benin this week block supplies of Niger’s crude oil to ships in its port.

The blockade threatens Niger’s plan to begin crude exports under a $400 million deal with China National Petroleum Corp (CNPET.UL). This is significant because Niger plans to use the funds from the export deal to cover missed bond payments due to regional sanctions.

Zeine claimed that the embargo breached over a dozen agreements signed by Benin, Niger, and China about a recently launched, PetroChina-backed pipeline connecting Niger’s Agadem oil field to Benin’s port of Cotonou.

However, Benin has stated that it will only back down if Niger reopens its border to Benin-produced goods and normalizes relations. According to Zeine, one of the oil export treaties stated that Benin could not unilaterally amend or limit the agreements without the assent of the other parties.

“This means that the country agreed not to take any decision that would stop the flow of Niger’s crude oil to the international market. This is serious. This is a violation of an agreement,” he said at a press conference.

The relationship between the two countries has been strained since July 2023, when a coup in Niger prompted ECOWAS to impose tight sanctions for over six months. What comes next is unclear. Zeine stated that Niger will not cooperate with Benin’s desire to reopen its border fully.

“In Benin’s territory, there are bases where in some, terrorists are trained to come and destabilise our country. So, it is for simple security reasons that we decided to maintain the border closure,” Zeine said, without further detailing the allegations.

Politics

Mass protest in Tunisia for release of political prisoners, fair elections

Published

1 day ago

May 13, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Local and international human rights groups have criticised the decline in civic freedoms in Tunisia since President Saied’s reign began. Local and international human rights groups have criticised the decline in civic freedoms in Tunisia since President Saied’s reign began.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Tunisia’s capital on Sunday to demand the release of imprisoned journalists, activists, and opposition members, as well as the date for fair presidential elections. The demonstration comes amid an economic and political crisis, as well as a wave of arrests of journalists, attorneys, activists, and opponents.

Tunisian police invaded the Deanship of Lawyers building on Saturday, arresting Sonia Dahmani, a lawyer known for her harsh criticism of President Kais Saied. Two more journalists were arrested on the same day.

The opposition claims that the political atmosphere is unsuitable for holding elections, citing press restrictions and the detention of key opponents and activists. They appealed on Sunday for a clean political climate in preparation for a vote that would end the press and political constraints.

“Today there is no climate for fair elections and there is no date… the authorities are repressing politicians, lawyers and journalists,” said Imed Khemiri, a senior official in the Ennahda party, a member of the Salvation Front, which is organizing the protest.

“The storming of the lawyers’ headquarters yesterday is a dangerous precedent that perpetuates the authoritarian regime,” he added.

One of the most notable candidates, Abir Moussa, has been imprisoned for months, and Mondher Zanaidi announced his candidacy for a prospective election from France, despite fears that he would be detained if he returned to Tunisia.

Saied, without clarifying who he was referring to, accused possible candidates of being traitors seeking refuge abroad.