Ghana Government faces outrage for allegedly projecting LGBTQI values at the presidency

Outrage has been directed at the Ghanaian government for projecting what is believed LGBTQI community movement at the presidency in Accra.

The United States’ national colors—red, white, and blue—as well as Ghana’s—red, yellow, and green—were both displayed at the country’s administrative office, referred to as Jubilee House, on Sunday, March 26, in the evening following the arrival of US Vice President Kamala Harris in Ghana to symbolize the close ties that both countries have maintained throughout the years.

The symbolic gesture, however, drew harsh criticism from the social media community, with many commentators voicing their concerns and accusing the government of “ditching the country’s cultural and moral values to project the LGBTQI community in Ghana.”

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Ghana to begin her week long tour of the continent aimed at increasing investment in Africa and help spur economic growth, as well as offering a counter to the influence of rival China. She will be in Ghana from March 26-29, then in Tanzania from March 29-31. Her final stop is Zambia, on March 31 and April 1.

Senior U.S. officials announced last week that Harris would meet Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo during this trip to talk about China’s involvement in debt restructuring as well as its involvement in economic and technological issues in Africa that the United States finds troubling. Also, she will go to an old slave castle where slaves were transported to America during the slave trade era.

China has invested heavily in Africa in recent decades, including in infrastructure and resource development, while Russian influence has also grown, including through the deployment of troops from Russia’s private military contractor Wagner Group to aid governments in several countries.