Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has replied to the concerns Virginia Palmer, the US ambassador to Ghana, made about Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ+ bill and its potential effects on American investors.
Sam George in a Facebook post where he expressed surprise at Ambassador Palmer’s worries, questioned whether American investors were only interested in nations without values.
The Ningo-Prampram MP refuted the ambassador’s claim and asserted his certainty that the worries were not valid, as he emphasized that despite the existence of anti-LGBTQ laws in some areas, businesses were still thriving in the US. He also emphasized the importance of morals and honesty in business ties and investments.
Furthermore, in explaining his question as to whether American investors wanted to invest in a nation without morals, he pointed out that Ghana had tolerated religious fanaticism without discouraging them and so, that did not seem like a problem.
Additionally, he gave the US Ambassador reassurance that Ghana is still accessible to American investors and is a strong democracy, stressing that investors that preserve moral standards and respect cultural norms are still welcome in Ghana.
Sam George also said that analogous laws in several American states, such Florida and Kentucky, are not fundamentally different from the anti-LGBTQ bill being debated in Ghana. He asserted that Ghana’s stance on this issue is broadly supported by the US Supreme Court because it understood Ghana’s view point.
The MP finally expressed hope for a successful business partnership between Ghana and the United States.
Overall, the MP’s statement emphasized the relevance of ethics and morals in business relationships, while addressing worries about possible negative effects on investment owing to Ghana’s position on LGBTQ rights.
World Bank Criticized For Underestimating Africans
On the other hand, in response to the World Bank’s decision to halt fresh loan requests from Uganda, following the passing of an anti-LGBTQ law, President Yoweri Museveni of that country has issued a statement.
President Museveni said in a letter shared on Twitter that the World Bank’s decision may be seen as an effort to force Ugandans to renounce their faith and culture in exchange for financial support.
However, President Museveni stressed that the nation’s goals should not be set only by financial considerations and that Uganda had the ability to thrive with or without loans.
“It is, therefore, unfortunate that the World Bank and other actors dare to want to coerce us into abandoning our faith, culture, principles and sovereignty, using money. They really under-estimate all Africans.
“We do not need pressure from anybody to know how to solve problems in our society. They are our problems. We are continuing to talk with the World Bank so that both they and we avoid this diversion if possible.”
President Yoweri Museveni
Concerns over Uganda’s human rights record, particularly the newly passed anti-LGBTQ law, led the World Bank to decide to halt fresh funding. The rule has aroused widespread criticism and prompted discussions about how to strike a balance between providing aid to other countries and upholding moral and ethical principles.
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