Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has shot down claims suggesting that he has close relations with individuals in the LGBTQ community.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate aspirant for the Ningo-Prampram Constituency, John Mantse Akwetey, has alleged that the incumbent MP, Sam Nartey George, is not being entirely honest with Ghanaians in his quest to have Parliament pass the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
In an interview on JoyNews’ AM Show on Wednesday, November 29, monitored by The Independent Ghana, John Mantse Akwetey accused Sam George of having close affiliation with a member of the LGBTQ community.
According to Mr Mantse Akwetey, Sam George’s campaign manager is a homosexual. He referred to the residents of Prampram as the source of this information.
“When we talk about LGBTQ, I don’t want to go there. But the sort of hypocrisy Sam George exhibits is overwhelming. Ask everybody in Prampram who Sam George’s campaign manager is and his sexual orientation.
“It is an open secret in the town of Prampram. Everybody knows it. So when you see a character like Sam George, jumping from place to place,” Mr Mantse Akwetey said.
Despite being informed of the risk of defaming an individual, Mr Akwetey reiterated his allegation.
“Send your reporters to Prampram and make your own judgement. I’m sitting on live television and I’m telling you. Sam George’s hypocrisy is untold. Your personal person is a known gay in Prampram. Why don’t you deal with his first?” he stressed.
But Sam George noted that such an individual does not exist as he manages his campaign independently. Also, during an interview on JoyNews on Thursday, November 30, he said: “Yesterday I got calls about the ranting made here. I think you should have stopped him midway. But that said, he made unsubstantiated claims about individuals. You should have asked him to name names.”
“Let me say emphatically here. There is no one in Ningo-Prampram who doesn’t know me. I don’t have campaign managers. I’ve never had campaign manager in 2015 when I contested E. T. Mensah, not in 2016 when I contested Sylvester Tetteh, not in 2019 when I contested Michael Tetteh, not in 2020 when I contested Alex Martey and not in 2023. I run my campaign myself. I am my own head of security.”
He described Mr Mantse as a “liar, dishonest person who cannot bear the title Honourable”.
Mr Sam George added; “He is attacking me because he thinks it will give him some legitimacy in the NPP. He wants my attention
The Ningo-Prampram MP has noted that he is engaging his legal counsel to know the best action to take against Mr Mantse.
This is not the first time such a claim has been made, and Sam George admitted this fact.
Michael Tettey Kwetey, a former Ningo-Prampram NDC Parliamentary aspirant also made such a claim ahead of the NDC Parliamentary primaries that saw him lose to Sam George.
“In his campaign, a known gay is the chairman of his campaign. All his political meetings are held in the residence of that known gay,” he said.
Mr Kwetey also alleged that a lesbian is also a part of Sam George’s campaign team.
According to Sam George, Mr Kwetey and himself were summoned by the leadership of the NDC, where Mr Kwetey was asked to provide evidence for his claim. Sam George noted that his contender failed to do so and was directed to render an unqualified apology.
Sam George is one of the sponsors of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill. He has been vocal on calls for the immediate passing of the bill that seeks to criminalize and impose severe penalties on the practice and promotion of homosexuality.
In his fight against the LGBTQ community, Sam George has been accused by Ghanaian musician Wanlov the Kubolor of being sponsored by an American organization to advocate for anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Ghana.
The Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill was laid in the house on March 30, 2023, by the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.
Source: The Independent Ghana | Andy Ogbarmey-Tettey