LGBT Saga: ‘We’ll Take Decisions That Suit Our Ghanaian Purpose’ – Ofori-Atta
The Finance Minister-designate, Ken Ofori-Atta, says the Akufo-Addo led government will not accept any financial aid from other countries on the condition of legalizing LGBT+ activities in the country.
Answering questions during his vetting on Thursday, Mr Ofori-Atta said under no circumstance will aid with conditionalities that will affect the Ghanaian culture be accepted.
“First of all, I’m not clear that it is being established as a conditionality…truly, for example, if you look at the decision the President took with regard to the termination of the PDS [deal] in which $190 million, therefore, had to be left on the table.
“I think our sociology and our traditions are the most important enduring legacy that we have and, so, we will make decisions that suit our Ghanaian purpose so that we can develop in the way we want to develop,” he told the Committee in response to a question asked by Odododiodoo MP Nii Lantey Vanderpuije.
The Minister for Finance designate also took a swipe at the former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu for his report on the controversial Agyapa transaction.
According to him, the decision by the anti-graft campaigner to put out the report without giving him the opportunity to respond was a disservice to him.
“There is a bit of cynicism around the Agyapa transaction. I think that for Martin Amidu’s report on it to be put out to the public without a chance by people like me to discuss it is a disservice,” Mr Ofori-Atta told Parliament’s appointments committee on Thursday during his vetting.
He added that the Agyapa deal will be resubmitted to parliament for it to be scrutinized before it is passed.
“We will resubmit it to parliament. The question, in this new normal, is what we do to leverage our natural resources. I hope we all come to terms with how we will capitalize and grow our transformation.”