Virginia Evelyn Palmer, the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, has expressed concerns over the anti-LGBTQ+ bill currently under consideration in Ghana’s parliament, cautioning that its passage could have detrimental effects on the country’s international trade relations.
Speaking during an interview on TV Africa’s Breakfast Live show hosted by Dennis Osei Gyamfi, Ambassador Palmer emphasized that the bill’s potential enactment could lead to adverse economic and public order consequences.
Ambassador Palmer criticized the bill as discriminatory and inconsistent with Ghana’s constitution. She expressed concern about its potential negative impact on innocent lives and emphasized that it encroaches upon various human rights.
The Ambassador also clarified that her stance was not about advocating for gay marriage or special rights, but rather about respecting Ghana’s constitution and its commitment to human rights.
She further underscored the need for respectful dialogue among Ghanaians about the bill and its implications. Ambassador Palmer concluded by emphasizing that the aim is to ensure the safety of LGBTQ+ individuals and to uphold Ghana’s reputation while respecting its constitutional principles.
“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 anybody. 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 concluded.
NKONKONSA.com