The anti-LGBTQ+ bill currently before parliament, according to U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Virginia Evelyn Palmer, will adversely impact the nation’s opportunities for foreign trade if it is ultimately passed.
The ambassador claimed that passing the bill will have negative effects on both public order and the country’s economy during an interview on TV Africa’s Breakfast live show, which was monitored by 1Family Radio.
“I have talked to a lot of USA-based businesses who are very concerned about the bill. And concerns are that consumers internationally would not want to buy products made in Ghana—give you cocoa, for example—because they are made where there is repression if the bill is passed,’’ she noted.
“So I am raising the sort of economic consequences of that. I also think that there are public order consequences because even the discussion of the bill has already resulted in more violence against the LGBTQ+ community.’’
She continued, “I see the bill as an encroachment on many different kinds of human rights. It is a bill that I feel is inconsistent with Ghana’s constitution and commitment to human rights, and a lot of people will be negatively affected.’’
“I want to really be careful and humble as a foreigner in approaching this; there are Ghanaian conversations that need to happen about this. So I am not talking about the morality of this; I am absolutely not advocating gay marriage, as people have alleged. I am not advocating for special rights for anyone. I want to ensure that the Ghanaian constitution is respected and Ghana is well respected.’’
“I commented before that we don’t want your straight children to be gay; we want your gay children to be safe, and I think it is very important,’’ she added.
Source: 1Familyradio