Young African students participate in a cultural event, showcasing national pride and support for LGBTQ+ rights.
The International Monetary Fund said it’s monitoring events in Ghana after lawmakers passed a bill seeking up to three years in jail for people identifying as an LGBTQ person. “Diversity and inclusion are values that the IMF embraces,” the Washington-based lender said in a statement. “Our internal policies prohibit discrimination based on personal characteristics, including but not limited to gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation. Like institutions, diverse and inclusive economies flourish.” Lawmakers passed the legislation on Wednesday. Supported by the ruling party and the opposition, the law also criminalizes financing LGBTQ groups and legalizes discrimination. President Nana Akufo-Addo, who is due to step down after elections on Dec. 7, must sign the bill before it becomes law. Ghana’s dollar bonds were among the worst performers on Friday in a Bloomberg index that monitors emerging-market sovereign hard-currency debt.