Ghana has long been recognized as a society that embraces openness and tolerance, as highlighted by the observations of the United States Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer.
Palmer expressed her optimistic aspiration that this welcoming spirit would be extended to encompass the LGBTQI+ community. She conveyed these sentiments while raising concerns about an anti-gay bill currently under consideration by the Ghanaian Parliament. She emphasized that if this bill were to be passed, it might deter investments from the LGBTQI community and other American investors seeking opportunities in Ghana.
In her view, Ghana is renowned for its inclusiveness and harmony, both in terms of religion and ethnicity, factors that contribute to the country’s robustness, stability, and attractiveness for investments. Palmer expressed her desire for this climate of acceptance to persist in relation to the LGBTQI community. She conveyed the message that economic opportunities exist, and the choice of investments, indicated by the colors of money, “green or red,” is at stake. Discriminatory policies, she cautioned, might not only deter LGBTQ investors but also other American companies interested in Ghana.
These remarks come at a time when the World Bank has made a significant announcement regarding its relationship with Uganda due to that country’s controversial anti-LGBTQ law. The World Bank stated that it will halt new loans to Uganda, citing concerns about discrimination and exclusion faced by sexual and gender minorities in Uganda. The lender’s decision aligns with its commitment to inclusive and non-discriminatory values.
The World Bank Group declared that Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act fundamentally contradicts its core values. The bank’s vision to eliminate poverty and promote a livable planet, it emphasized, can only succeed when it includes everyone, regardless of race, gender, or sexuality. The bank intends to enhance monitoring and grievance redress mechanisms to ensure corrective actions are taken as needed.
In response to the World Bank’s actions, one of the sponsors of the anti-gay bill in Ghana’s Parliament, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, conveyed that Ghana would remain undeterred by the developments in Uganda. He expressed that African countries should not be coerced or “blackmailed” into accepting homosexuality. Dafeamekpor, a Member of Parliament for South Dayi, conveyed his steadfast position on this matter, asserting that Ghana will stand its ground and not compromise its principles due to external pressure.
He further emphasized that the World Bank is an institution serving all nations and should not attempt to impose LGBTQ acceptance on Africa. Given the continent’s diverse nations (54 in total), Dafeamekpor stated that any efforts by the World Bank to force Africa to embrace LGBTQ rights would be an overreach, and Africa would not yield to such pressures. He concluded by affirming that Ghana would not be swayed, asserting, “We will not back down today, we will not back down tomorrow.”