Anti-LGBTQ+ bill will affect tourism in Ghana – Tourism Minister-designate
The Minister-designate for Tourism, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, is convinced the Anti-LGBTQ Bill will affect tourism in Ghana if assented to by the president.
President Akufo-Addo is yet to assent to the bill which has garnered a lot of conversations and opposition.
Mr. Mercer addressing Parliament’s vetting committee on Tuesday, March 5, mentioned that while Ghana has its unique cultural identity, the enactment of the bill might deter some individuals from visiting the country, thus affecting tourism.
However, he believes that tourism may not take that much of a big hit if the country promotes domestic tourism where citizens are encouraged to explore the country.
He stated that domestic tourism could mitigate the potential downturn in international tourist arrivals.
“I mean our culture is our culture, ultimately. And so if people want to experience our culture, it really matters not whether we are opposed to a certain lifestyle within our cultural setting. But it all comes down to how you promote Ghana and position ourselves within the law, that is if the President assents to it,” he said.
Mr Mercer added “All I can say is that it definitely will have an impact one way or the other. Some people who believe that lifestyle should be allowed everywhere may find Ghana unattractive. Some people who believe in our culture would find Ghana an attractive place.”
The Tourism Minister-designate emphasised the significance of effectively marketing Ghana both to its citizens and tourists to sustain tourism growth.
“We are encouraging people to visit our country as opposed to others. If you promote domestic tourism, that will then help us to deal with whatever shortfalls or issues that may arise from some lack of interest because of this law,” Mr Mercer added.
The bill stipulates that those who take part in LGBTQ+ sexual acts, as well as those who promote the rights of gay, lesbian or other non-conventional sexual or gender identities, will spend time in prison.
Although a section of the public has welcomed the bill, others including Commission the on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and, the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) have raised many concerns including discrimination against people and their freedoms as stated in the constitution.
The Finance Ministry has advised President Akufo-Addo to defer assent to the bill, expressing concerns that the country could face serious financial challenges if the president goes ahead to assent to the bill.
The ministry warned that Ghana could lose more than $3 billion in funding from the World Bank for various programmes and projects.
In response, President Akufo-Addo reassured the international community of Ghana’s commitment to upholding human rights despite the recent passage of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, popularly known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.