Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jr., Editor-in-Chief, Insight Newspaper
Kwesi Pratt, Jr., Editor-in-Chief of Insight, has identified US Ambassador to Ghana Virginia Palmer as consistently interfering in Ghana’s internal affairs, particularly regarding controversial anti-LGBT+ legislation. criticized.
Kwesi Pratt expressed dissatisfaction with Ambassador Palmer’s frequent responses to statements made by Ghanaian government officials.
Speaking on a panel discussion on Peace FM’s Koklokou on 5 March 2024, he stressed that ambassadors, including Mr Palmer, should not overstep boundaries in an attempt to dictate the policies of sovereign nations.
Mr Pratt questioned the ambassador’s authority to intervene in Ghana’s internal affairs, saying:
“The U.S. ambassador does not have the authority to live in this country and tell us what to do and what not to do.
Could the Ghanaian ambassador to the US go to the US and tell them what to do there? Could he hold a press conference and tell Joe Biden to stop what he’s been doing?
“Why? Are we still going back to colonization? I’m even embarrassed by the whole thing,” he said.
He urged Ghanaians to protect their right to self-government, saying: “What I want to say is, I don’t care whether you are gay or not, but what I care about is that we are free.” It’s about protecting Americans, not condoning their actions.” The ambassador thinks that he is more important than the president because he is giving instructions to the president.
“As an ambassador, it’s terrible to deal with ministers and the president. Who are you? Who are you to give us orders?” he lamented.
In a post shared on X on Thursday, February 29, 2024, Virginia Palmer warned of dire consequences for Ghanaβs economy and international reputation if the bill is signed into law. I’ve claimed it before.
She noted that the bill passed by Parliament violates the fundamental human rights and freedom of speech rights of gay Ghanaians.
“I’m sad because some of the smartest, most creative, most decent people I know are LGBT.
βThe bill passed by Parliament takes away not only the fundamental human rights of Ghanaians, but the fundamental human rights of Ghanaians as a whole, as it undermines the constitutional rights to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of the press. β she wrote to X.
The ambassador added: “This will have a negative impact on security and public health. If enacted, it will also have a negative impact on Ghana’s international reputation and the Ghanaian economy.”
On Wednesday, February 28, 2024, Ghana’s parliament passed the Human Rights and Family Values ββBill, widely known as an anti-LGBT+ bill.
The bill, which currently awaits presidential approval, would ban lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) activities and criminalize their promotion, advocacy, and funding.
Those caught in these acts will be sentenced to six months to three years in prison, and promoters and sponsors will be sentenced to three to five years in prison.
am/sarah
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