A sponsor of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill and MP for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has expressed the view that Ghana stands to lose nothing if the United States of America (USA) decides to sever business ties.
He argued that the U.S. benefits more from trade relations with Ghana, making any legislation to terminate such ties a disadvantage for them.
Speaking on JoyFM on Monday evening, he said, “There is more trade coming into Ghana than Ghanaian trade going into the US. We are in a trade deficit doing business with the US.
“If the United States decides to stop doing business with Ghana, it’s the United States that is going to suffer not Ghana.”
His remarks follow the statement from the US Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, who expressed concerns that the anti-LGBTQ+ bill could complicate efforts to promote Ghana as an investment and trade destination. Palmer noted that the legislation might result in decreased foreign exchange inflows, negatively impact Ghana’s financial standing, and limit workforce options, affecting businesses.
In response, the Ningo-Prampram MP stated that Ghana has the flexibility to engage in business with other nations. He expressed minimal concern about potential revenue implications, emphasizing the country’s ability to pursue alternative trade partnerships.
“And whatever business we do with them, the US should be well aware that we are in a global world – China is ready to do business with us, Russia is ready to do business with us. Again when the US Ambassador peddles such untruth, someone holding such a high office is unbecoming of her unless she is a lobbyist or spokesperson of the LGBTQ + community,” he said.
Additionally, the legislator contested the US Ambassador’s statement asserting that the best individuals in a workforce come from the LGBTQ+ communities, stating that such a claim was not grounded in facts. Mr. George took the opportunity to remind Madam Palmer that she lacked the authority to interfere in the decisions and plans of her host country.
“That Article 42 of the Vienna Convention, whether she is the US Ambassador or not, cannot conduct herself in a manner that is offensive to her host country and so we are serving notice to her to respect our rules but if she does not respect our rules we are going to organise a demonstration against her and insist that the American government changes her because she is pushing an agenda that is not the official position of the US government.”
He added that if the US decides to end business relations with Ghana, “so be it, they are not the only country in the world.”