Lawyer and Convention People’s Party (CPP) member Kwame Jantuah says Ghana should not allow concerns over foreign funding to influence decisions on the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, arguing that the country has sufficient natural resources to support its development.

Speaking on The Forum on Asaase Radio over the weekend, Jantuah dismissed suggestions that Ghana should reconsider the controversial anti-LGBTQ+ legislation because of possible economic consequences or pressure from international partners.

The lawyer argued that Ghana’s economic future should be built on effective management of its natural resources rather than dependence on external assistance.

“If the World Bank decides that because of LGBTQI it will not fund us, let’s take them on,” Jantuah said. “We deserve to be funded. Let them see that you can’t joke with us.”

“We can find the money with the natural resources that we have,” he said. “Gold, oil and cocoa can look after this country. It’s just that we are not prioritizing well.”

Jantuah said policymakers should focus on tackling inefficiencies and waste within the system, insisting that better governance would reduce the country’s reliance on foreign support.

According to him, concerns about international reactions to the bill should not outweigh what he described as Ghana’s cultural values and national interests.

“As Africans, we should make sure our culture comes first,” he said.

His comments come amid renewed debate over the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill after Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin called for the legislation to be reconsidered and subjected to broader consultations among parliamentary leaders and stakeholders.

The Speaker said the bill’s sensitive nature and the extensive public discussion surrounding it require greater consensus before Parliament proceeds further.

Jantuah, however, argued that lawmakers should not delay the process, maintaining that Parliament has a responsibility to act on the wishes of the majority of Ghanaians.

“Parliament shouldn’t dither around this thing,” he said. “Because it’s Ghanaians who voted you to power.”

The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill seeks to impose stricter penalties on same-sex sexual relations and criminalize the promotion, advocacy and funding of LGBTQ+ activities in Ghana.

Supporters of the legislation say it reflects the country’s religious, cultural and family values, while critics argue that it could undermine constitutional rights and affect Ghana’s international reputation and economic relations.

Jantuah rejected the notion that potential financial consequences should determine the outcome of the debate, insisting that Ghana should be prepared to pursue its policy choices regardless of external pressure.