Ghana has been granted $139 million in financial help from the United States government, but the Catholic Bishops Conference has asked the government to reject the money if it is conditional on the country’s acceptance of LGBTQ activities.
In an interview with Catholic Trends, Most Rev. Matthew Gyamfi, president of the Catholic Bishop Conference, warned that if the government of Ghana accepted help from the United States based on their acceptance of the LGBTQ community, it would be similar to surrendering the country’s birth right.
He also said the Ghanaian government had an obligation to inform the public about the terms of the $139 million donation before receiving it.
“We have made our positions very clear, and we don’t want any parliamentary to change the words and the desire of the people… and over 70% of the Ghanian population do not want the LGBTQ+ legalised in Ghana, and this bill is coming from the people of Ghana, not from the cabinet. Parliament should not waste time; they should have passed the will of the people themselves; otherwise, what is democracy.”
“They are there to represent us, and we have sent this thing to you that you should pass; are you going to change it? You are going to tell us that you in parliament are wiser and you know what the people of Ghana like better than the people of Ghana themselves, so we wait to see.” Most Rev. Gyamfi said.
“This is a very serious issue. It is at the gate of who we are as Ghanaians and nobody should toy with it with money. And if that should be the case (the aid is tied to Ghana accepting LGBT), let the government reject the money and tell the people, this is what they are saying. Should I take it? So that you do this or not and let the people decide.
“This is not the first time. We have seen the European Union, the United States and these rich countries sometimes push down our throats with certain reforms and certain things and they say if only you do these things, we would give you the money.
“I know the government has done that over and over and over, and many Ghanaians know it. It is not only I who is saying it. So when it comes to something that makes a people, a people. That is their culture and tradition, then if you sell your birth right, culture and tradition, if you sell who you are for money when you get the money who are you again?” he added.
According to the Vice President’s office, the United States would provide $139 million in aid to Ghana for the 2024 fiscal year. Aljazeera reported an additional $139 million in security assistance in addition to the $100 million Vice President Kamala Harris had promised for five West African countries, including Ghana.
Listen to the full interview below
Source – Tru News Report
