The United States of America Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia E. Palmer has called on Ghana to protect homosexuals in the country.
She asserts that discrimination against homosexuals will negatively affect the country’s economy as investors and potential investors may pull out of the country if they think the rights of their workers cannot be protected.
“United States isn’t asking for special rights for homosexuals. We are asking that they receive the same rights that all other Ghanaians have.
“I want to be clear that we are not trying to promote homosexuality. We don’t want your straight children to be gay.
“We want your gay children to be safe. I think it’s very important that any threat on one group demonstrates that the rights of other people can be encroached on. Discrimination of any kind is bad”, she opined.
The US Ambassador further bemoaned the incidence of violence against persons alleged to be homosexuals.
“This kind of discrimination will be bad for public order. We’ve already seen violence against LGBT persons which I think is terribly unfortunate.
“It is bad for public health because people won’t seek the kind of health care they need. For example HIV, and monkeypox if they think they are going to be stigmatized.
“It could be bad for the Ghanaian economy because there will be pressure from companies to say I can’t be headquartered in Ghana if the rights of the Ghanaian people are not safe or people are not safe on the streets. It kind of sends that signal that”, she added.
Sam George Disagrees
However, Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Samuel Nartey George has berated the US Ambassador for her comment.
He has dared the United State of America to legalize polygamy if indeed it believes in championing human rights.
Mr George. Who is the main proponent of the Anti-LGBTQI+ Bill, says the US and countries in Europe should be the last to offer moral lessons to anyone.
“We will take a lecture from the American ambassador when her government decides not to discriminate against people who have a right to polygamy in the United States
“When the US is able to respect the right of persons to have more than one wife legally, which is allowed in Ghana. When they respect the right of persons to marry multiple women or multiple men as they so choose which is also a fundamental human right to association, then we will have a conversation”, he said
“But until they (the American government) are able to respect the rights of person in the US who wants to be polygamous, they don’t have any moral right to talk to us”, he added.
