The Member of Parliament (MP) representing Ningo-Prampram, Sam George, has called upon Parliament to stand firm and resist the warnings by Virginia Palmer, the US Ambassador to Ghana, regarding the proposed anti-LGBTQ Bill.
In an interview with the media, Sam George stressed the importance of upholding Ghanaian values and cultural beliefs, rather than yielding to external pressures or advisories.
He emphasized the significance of safeguarding Ghana’s cultural identity and principles, asserting that Ghanaians should recognize that their portrayal determines how they are perceived and treated.
Sam George argued that maintaining integrity and a strong value system is paramount, particularly in business partnerships, and that succumbing to financial incentives at the expense of cultural values could tarnish Ghana’s reputation and discourage meaningful collaborations.
“It is high time Ghanaians begin to realize that the way we sell ourselves is how we will be bought and that this is a sovereign nation and in fact, for anybody who goes into business or partnership, the first interest of any potential business partner is a sense of integrity and a value system and so if you tell the Ghanaian people that our culture frowns on this (LGBTQ) but because of a few thousand or million dollars worth of investment that is not even proven will come, you push it aside, Ghana will be seen as the country that does not have integrity and any true businessman will not come here to work with us.
“So let us not buy into the rhetoric and let us stop regurgitating that rhetoric that if we pass the bill, something will happen to us,” he added.
He encouraged fellow Ghanaians not to embrace the rhetoric that passing the anti-LGBTQ Bill would lead to negative consequences, challenging the notion that economic interests should dictate the country’s moral stance.
In response to Ambassador Palmer’s concerns that the bill could deter foreign investors and exporters, Sam George proposed that Ghana should leverage its unique strengths, particularly its safe and vibrant democracy, which has attracted international organizations and corporations to set up their headquarters in the country.
He advised against compromising these strengths for short-term gains, urging Ghana to stand its ground during negotiations and avoid being swayed by external pressures.
Ultimately, Sam George’s message centered on the idea that Ghana’s value is not solely determined by economic indicators, but also by its cultural heritage, democratic stability, and ethical principles.