John Dramani Mahama has cautioned multilateral organizations like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) against meddling in Ghana’s internal affairs, especially on cultural and social matters like LGBTQ+ rights.

In an interview with Bloomberg’s Next Africa, President Mahama emphasized that multilateral institutions should stick to their economic roles and refrain from influencing cultural issues in Ghana. “Multilateral institutions should avoid getting into cultural matters,” Mahama stated. “This is a diverse world. We have different cultures.” His remarks come as concerns rise that organizations like the World Bank and IMF might withdraw funding if Ghana moves forward with the controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill currently under consideration in parliament.

When asked directly about the potential financial impact if the bill is passed, Mahama responded defiantly, saying, “If they decide to pull [funding], well, it’s their prerogative. But I don’t believe that multilateral institutions like the World Bank and IMF should include in their mandates how people behave culturally.”

Ghana’s parliament is currently debating the revival of a controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill, which had previously expired after legal challenges and failing to receive presidential approval. Mahama clarified that while the legal challenge was dismissed, the bill lapsed due to lack of presidential assent. Regarding a new version of the bill, Mahama called for broader stakeholder consultation, stressing the importance of ensuring that all parties are involved. He also emphasized that preserving family values should focus more on education than on legislation.

“Proper family values are something we all are interested in,” Mahama stated. “But it’s not only in the bills that we send to parliament to regulate them, it’s also about teaching our children those family values as they grow.”