Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, has threatened to disclose the identities of his colleagues in the House who continually work to impede the passage of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill (commonly known as the anti-LGBTQI bill).
He made the threat while addressing the press on Wednesday after the House failed to discuss the bill, which is currently in the consideration stage.
Sam George and other sponsors of the bill were dissatisfied that the majority caucus in the House did not allow the bill to be discussed during proceedings on that Wednesday. He accused the majority caucus of defying the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin’s, order to take up the bill and address proposed corrections and amendments.
Sam George alleged that the majority caucus was employing various tactics to obstruct the bill’s passage, aiming to discredit the Speaker of Parliament, who had pledged to pass the bill before the end of 2023.
“We need to understand from the Majority side what their issues with the bill are. We need to understand with those who take the chair when the speaker gives the instruction what their opposition to the bill is. We are very well aware of people in leadership on the Majority side who are reaching out to sponsors of the bill asking us to step down the bill,” he said.
The MP claimed that the chairman of the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Kwame Anyimadu Antwi, deliberately stayed absent, potentially as a pretext to prevent the bill from being addressed.
He therefore threatened to name and shame MPs who have allegedly been influenced by individuals who oppose the bill. According to Sam George, he has not yet done so due to a request by some co-sponsors of the bill.
“Those who have gone and gotten influenced by persons who have interest in the LGBTQ should return whatever influence they have collected because we will fight.
“And the next time we address the media, I will mention names. I have been pressed upon by my co-sponsors not to mention names. It is out of respect that I have not mentioned names but if they continue this behaviour of frustrating the bill… How can this bill spend almost 3 years,” he said.
Already, Sam George has accused Ablekuma North MP, Sheila Bartels, of receiving funds from pro-LGBT individuals.
“After taking money from LGBTQ, and you say I shouldn’t mention her name as a pro-LGBTQ person? She went and sat on the media and said I had taken money from LGBTQ people. It took her father to come and apologize to me,” he said.
Sam George has been vocal on calls for the immediate passing of the bill that seeks to criminalize and impose severe penalties on the practice and promotion of homosexuality.
In his fight against the LGBTQ community, Sam George has been accused by Ghanaian musician Wanlov the Kubolor of being sponsored by an American organization to advocate for anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Ghana.
The Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill was laid in the house on March 30, 2023, by the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.
Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has shot down claims suggesting that he has close relations with individuals in the LGBTQ community.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate aspirant for the Ningo-Prampram Constituency, John Mantse Akwetey, has alleged that the incumbent MP, Sam Nartey George, is not being entirely honest with Ghanaians in his quest to have Parliament pass the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
In an interview on JoyNews’ AM Show on Wednesday, November 29, monitored by The Independent Ghana, John Mantse Akwetey accused Sam George of having close affiliation with a member of the LGBTQ community.
According to Mr Mantse Akwetey, Sam George’s campaign manager is a homosexual. He referred to the residents of Prampram as the source of this information.
“When we talk about LGBTQ, I don’t want to go there. But the sort of hypocrisy Sam George exhibits is overwhelming. Ask everybody in Prampram who Sam George’s campaign manager is and his sexual orientation.
“It is an open secret in the town of Prampram. Everybody knows it. So when you see a character like Sam George, jumping from place to place,” Mr Mantse Akwetey said.
Despite being informed of the risk of defaming an individual, Mr Akwetey reiterated his allegation.
“Send your reporters to Prampram and make your own judgement. I’m sitting on live television and I’m telling you. Sam George’s hypocrisy is untold. Your personal person is a known gay in Prampram. Why don’t you deal with his first?” he stressed.
But Sam George noted that such an individual does not exist as he manages his campaign independently. Also, during an interview on JoyNews on Thursday, November 30, he said: “Yesterday I got calls about the ranting made here. I think you should have stopped him midway. But that said, he made unsubstantiated claims about individuals. You should have asked him to name names.”
“Let me say emphatically here. There is no one in Ningo-Prampram who doesn’t know me. I don’t have campaign managers. I’ve never had campaign manager in 2015 when I contested E. T. Mensah, not in 2016 when I contested Sylvester Tetteh, not in 2019 when I contested Michael Tetteh, not in 2020 when I contested Alex Martey and not in 2023. I run my campaign myself. I am my own head of security.”
He described Mr Mantse as a “liar, dishonest person who cannot bear the title Honourable”.
Mr Sam George added; “He is attacking me because he thinks it will give him some legitimacy in the NPP. He wants my attention
The Ningo-Prampram MP has noted that he is engaging his legal counsel to know the best action to take against Mr Mantse.
This is not the first time such a claim has been made, and Sam George admitted this fact.
Michael Tettey Kwetey, a former Ningo-Prampram NDC Parliamentary aspirant also made such a claim ahead of the NDC Parliamentary primaries that saw him lose to Sam George.
“In his campaign, a known gay is the chairman of his campaign. All his political meetings are held in the residence of that known gay,” he said.
Mr Kwetey also alleged that a lesbian is also a part of Sam George’s campaign team.
According to Sam George, Mr Kwetey and himself were summoned by the leadership of the NDC, where Mr Kwetey was asked to provide evidence for his claim. Sam George noted that his contender failed to do so and was directed to render an unqualified apology.
Sam George is one of the sponsors of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill. He has been vocal on calls for the immediate passing of the bill that seeks to criminalize and impose severe penalties on the practice and promotion of homosexuality.
In his fight against the LGBTQ community, Sam George has been accused by Ghanaian musician Wanlov the Kubolor of being sponsored by an American organization to advocate for anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Ghana.
The Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill was laid in the house on March 30, 2023, by the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.
Source: The Independent Ghana | Andy Ogbarmey-Tettey
New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary candidate aspirant for the Ningo-Prampram Constituency, John Mantse Akwetey, has alleged that the incumbent MP, Sam Nartey George, is not being entirely honest with Ghanaians in his quest to have Parliament pass the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
In an interview on JoyNews’ AM Show on Wednesday, November 29, monitored by The Independent Ghana, John Mantse Akwetey accused Sam George of having close affiliation with a member of the LGBTQ community.
According to Mr Mantse Akwetey, Sam George’s campaign manager is a homosexual. He referenced the residents of Prampram as the source of this information.
“When we talk about LGBTQ, I don’t want to go there. But the sort of hypocrisy Sam George exhibits is overwhelming. Ask everybody in Prampram who Sam George’s campaign manager is and his sexual orientation.
“It is an open secret in the town of Prampram. Everybody knows it. So when you see a character like Sam George, jumping from place to place,” Mr Mantse Akwetey said.
Despite being informed of the risk of defaming an individual, Mr Akwetey reiterated his allegation.
“Send your reporters to Prampram and make your own judgement. I’m sitting on live television and I’m telling you. Sam George’s hypocrisy is untold. Your personal person is a known gay in Prampram. Why don’t you deal with his first?” he stressed.
This is not the first time such a claim has been made. Michael Tettey Kwetey, a former Ningo-Prampram NDC Parliamentary aspirant also made such claim ahead of the NDC Parliamentary primaries that saw him lose to Sam George.
“In his campaign, a known gay is the chairman of his campaign. All his political meetings are held in the residence of that known gay,” he said.
Mr Kwetey also alleged that a lesbian is also a part of Sam George’s campaign team.
The identity of Sam George’s campaign manager remains unknown.
Sam George is one of the sponsors of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill. He has been vocal on calls for the immediate passing of the bill that seeks to criminalize and impose severe penalties on the practice and promotion of homosexuality.
In his fight against the LGBTQ community, Sam George has been accused by Ghanaian musician Wanlov the Kubolor of being sponsored by an American organization to advocate for anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Ghana.
Kubolor’s claims and the recent allegations by John Mantse Akwetey are yet to receive a reaction from Mr Sam Nartey George.
The Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill was laid in the house on March 30, 2023, by the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.
On the recent caution from the US Ambassador regarding potential economic repercussions if Ghana enacts the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill (anti-LGBTQI bill), Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, shared his perspective.
During an interview on JoyNews’ PM Express show on November 21, 2023, Sam George accused US Ambassador Virginia Palmer of misinterpreting certain provisions within Ghana’s proposed anti-LGBTQI legislation.
He suggested that the Ambassador’s statements may be based on a misunderstanding of the bill’s content.
“Virginia Palmer is within her rights to make the comments, she has made. First and foremost, I must say that the things she said about the bill are factually incorrect, they are not true. There is a difference between reading the bill and understanding it. She clearly has no understanding of the bill,” he said.
“On the economic pain, take it from me, the US is within its rights to flex its muscles but Ghana is a sovereign Nation. If you look at the total amount of aid that Ghana received in 2022 from the US, it was a $150 million. What percentage of our GDP is that again?
“If you put together a few corrupt Ghanaian politicians, they have, combined, more than a $150 million to their name – that is the total amount of aid. So, when there is the threat of aid (sic)… are we going to sell our national identity and sovereignty as a state because of a $150 million for an economy whose GDP is nearing a ($) 100 billion – that is less than 1 percent of your GDP,” he said.
The legislator from Ningo-Prampram, one of the backers of Ghana’s anti-LGBTQI bill, rejected the ambassador’s claim that Ghana’s economy would face severe consequences if the bill becomes law.
A sponsor of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill and MP for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has expressed the view that Ghana stands to lose nothing if the United States of America (USA) decides to sever business ties.
He argued that the U.S. benefits more from trade relations with Ghana, making any legislation to terminate such ties a disadvantage for them.
Speaking on JoyFM on Monday evening, he said, “There is more trade coming into Ghana than Ghanaian trade going into the US. We are in a trade deficit doing business with the US.
“If the United States decides to stop doing business with Ghana, it’s the United States that is going to suffer not Ghana.”
His remarks follow the statement from the US Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, who expressed concerns that the anti-LGBTQ+ bill could complicate efforts to promote Ghana as an investment and trade destination. Palmer noted that the legislation might result in decreased foreign exchange inflows, negatively impact Ghana’s financial standing, and limit workforce options, affecting businesses.
In response, the Ningo-Prampram MP stated that Ghana has the flexibility to engage in business with other nations. He expressed minimal concern about potential revenue implications, emphasizing the country’s ability to pursue alternative trade partnerships.
“And whatever business we do with them, the US should be well aware that we are in a global world – China is ready to do business with us, Russia is ready to do business with us. Again when the US Ambassador peddles such untruth, someone holding such a high office is unbecoming of her unless she is a lobbyist or spokesperson of the LGBTQ + community,” he said.
Additionally, the legislator contested the US Ambassador’s statement asserting that the best individuals in a workforce come from the LGBTQ+ communities, stating that such a claim was not grounded in facts. Mr. George took the opportunity to remind Madam Palmer that she lacked the authority to interfere in the decisions and plans of her host country.
“That Article 42 of the Vienna Convention, whether she is the US Ambassador or not, cannot conduct herself in a manner that is offensive to her host country and so we are serving notice to her to respect our rules but if she does not respect our rules we are going to organise a demonstration against her and insist that the American government changes her because she is pushing an agenda that is not the official position of the US government.”
He added that if the US decides to end business relations with Ghana, “so be it, they are not the only country in the world.”
Member of Parliament for the Ningo-Prampram Constituency, Sam Nartey George, has earned praise from a segment of the public for his speech at the 5th Transatlantic Summit held by the Political Network for Values at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Friday, November 17, 2023.
Many Ghanaians commend the MP for championing Ghanaian and African values, particularly on issues related to gender, sexuality, and marriage.
During his approximately 6-minute address, Sam George emphatically asserted that Ghanaian and African cultures recognise only marriage between a man and a woman.
He further articulated that the sex of an individual, often confused with gender, is determined by God at birth and cannot be reassigned after birth.
“…Sex is a biological construct that transcends race, ethnicity, religion and jurisdictional jurisprudence. Sex is binary – either male or female. God determines it at the moment of conception. A foetus carries either the XY or XX chromosomes, determining whether it is born male or female. From my beloved Ningo-Prampram Constituency in Accra to New York and Rio de Janeiro to Madrid or Delhi to Perth, the interpretation of XY and XX is constant.
“Gender, on the other hand, is a social construct that has evolved based on the peculiarities of various societies. From the onset, matching the binary nature of sex, we see different recognitions of gender across the world today.
“There is no universality in the concept of gender, as gender is highly fluid, and as such, gender cannot form the basis for any convention, covenant or treaty that seeks to be globally acceptable and binding.
“This is the basis for my avowed position that the letter and spirit of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights is apt and meets the needs of our global world today. It emphasises in Article 2 the Rights and freedoms outlined in the Declaration and is clear that there shall be no distinction based on SEX. Yes, it says SEX, not gender. This is definite and must be defended by all progressive forces.”
Managing Director of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea, has slammed the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram,Sam George, for his ‘filthy’ and ‘ugly’ attack on the religious beliefs and practices of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Nana Akomea was speaking on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo with host Kwame Sefa Kayi on Wednesday, November 15, 2023.
Expressing his dismay at recent remarks made Sam George, Nana Akomea remarked, “The recent language Sam George used is so filthy, I cannot comprehend. That an elected member of parliament will speak such words as though you are inciting some people, Muslims, that Bawumia is not a proper Muslim.”
Sam George had recently said about Vice President Bawumia, who is contesting for presidency is a ‘religious prostitute,’ and thus not a true Muslim.
“The best description you can give him is that, he is a Muslim by day and a Christian by night, a religious prostitute cannot be our president. No true Muslim anywhere in this world believes that Jesus Christ is our lord and saviour. No true Muslim kneels before a Catholic priest or a pastor to lay hands on them – only Bawumia,” he said during a recent appearance on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana show.
In response to Sam George‘s comments, Nana Akomea questioned the appropriateness of a Member of Parliament making such statements, stating, “Is this something that should come from a member of parliament? Calling a whole Vice President of Ghana a prostitute. It is dirty.”
“That an elected member of parliament will speak such words as though you are inciting some people, Muslims, that Bawumia is not a proper Muslim. You, Sam George, are not a Muslim. You say you are a Christian. Are you the one to determine who a true Muslim is? Even with the Christian that you are, you are not qualified to determine who a proper Christian is. Are you, Sam George, a proper Christian?” he added.
Nana Akomea emphasized the importance of religious tolerance in Ghana’s development, saying, “One of the main reasons for Ghana’s development is religious tolerance. Christians and Muslims living together in peace, across the country. A lot of countries do not have that.”
“Even the chief imam went to the Catholic Church when he was celebrating his 100th birthday and was earnestly prayed for by Father Campbell. The Quran and Bible talk about tolerance for each other, so if you are someone with good intentions, you should be praising people like the chief imam for being tolerant. It is the same God. Our worship may be different, but it is the same God. So why insult Bawumia because he went to a Catholic Church and got prayed for? Why are you inciting Muslims against Dr. Bawumia? Let’s stop this moving forward,” he noted.
Nana Akomea urged Sam George to refrain from insults, stating, “Sam George should change his ways and let the Holy Spirit work in him because this behavior is not good. He should stop.”
As the political landscape gears up for the 2024 elections, the focus on candidates and their messages becomes crucial. As such, Nana Akomea dvised the public to focus on the message and policies of the aspirants for the 2024 general elections, and not on their personal attacks and propaganda.
The 2024 general elections will be held in December 2024 to elect the president and members of Parliament for the next presidential term.
Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram Samuel Nartey George appears to be adding more salt to injury shortly after his infamous ‘religious prostitute’ comment drew a lot of backlash from the general public particularly members of the New Patriotic party(NPP).
Mr George in a latest post on his handle on micro-blogging X sort to mock the Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia even more by giving him “Christian” name in addition to his “Muslim” name
In his post, he referred to the popularly Vice President as Dr Thomas Bawumia
Additionally, the unshaken MP sort to justify his “religious prostitute” comment against the Vice President comparing him to the National Chief Imam.
According to him, the strenuous attempt to drag the revered Chief Imam into the issue of religious prostitution issue is distasteful.
“The Chief Imam is not a Politician. He is a spiritual leader of our Nation. He is a stellar example of religious tolerance and embodies this in his several actions when tensions have arisen in the past. In his fellowship with Christians, he has never compromised his faith and belief.”
“I believe that those who seek equity must come with clean hands. Today, pointing out the double standards of Dr Bawumia is seen as wrong but his attempt to ridicule President John Mahama who had honoured the invitation of the Chief Imam was seen as okay. We would not tolerate those attacks any longer without an equal measure of response.” he added
I have seen a strenuous attempt to drag the revered Chief Imam into the issue of religious prostitution by our Vice President, Dr. Thomas Bawumia.
It is distasteful to say the least. The NPP and its agents have no limits. They do not honour the respected cleric and all right… pic.twitter.com/Mup6jOuXsD
The Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has declared that his relentless scrutiny of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s character will persist unabated.
The lawmaker emphasized his commitment to unveiling what he perceives as the Vice President’s hypocritical nature, one case at a time.
This declaration follows a ‘fake’ publication by TESCON-Informant, a pro-NPP news outlet, accusing Sam George of declaring war on Dr Bawumia and the Islamic leadership in Ghana.
The headline of the publication read, “Sam George declares war on Dr Bawumia and possible Muslim leadership in Ghana.” Sam George dismissed this as an orchestrated effort by Dr. Bawumia and his ardent followers.
In response to the allegation, Sam George took to his social media page, stating, “Dear Dr Mahamudu Timothy Bawumia, I have exposed just one facet of your deceitful and hypocritical character, and you and your supporters have gone into overdrive? You will have to explain thoroughly, Mr. Veep. I will address each issue in the coming year and reveal your true character to Ghanaians. Interesting times ahead @MBawumia. You and your team will be in for a surprise!”
Sam George has been a focal point of discussions recently, especially after branding Dr Bawumia as a ‘religious prostitute.’ He justified this label by highlighting the Vice President’s simultaneous engagement in political activities in both Christian churches and Islamic mosques.
During an appearance on the November 8 edition of Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV, Sam George stated, “The best description you can give him is that he is a Muslim by day and a Christian by night; a religious prostitute cannot be our president.”
Further elaborating, Sam George cited instances where Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia remained silent on issues crucial to Muslims, such as the Hijab controversy and the killings of Muslim youth in Kumasi. He argued that a true Muslim would not publicly proclaim Jesus as Lord and Saviour or kneel before men of God for prayers.
“When the issue of the Hijabs came up in this country for Muslim girls, did you ever hear Dr. Bawumia speak? When the issue of fasting for girls came up during Ramadan, he was silent. When the Muslim Zongo youth were killed in cold blood in Kumasi, Dr. Bawumia was silent,” Sam George asserted.
He concluded by stating, “No true Muslim anywhere in this world believes that Jesus Christ is our lord and saviour. No true Muslim kneels before a Catholic priest or a pastor to lay hands on them – only Bawumia. If you like, you can take the Suraj Mariama that talks about who Jesus is. They do not see Jesus Christ as their lord and personal saviour as we do.”
I see how the Bawumia legion has gone into overdrive with my cameo appearance yesterday on Metro TV.
There is a difference between religious tolerance and religious prostitution. We have had all our previous leaders in this country exhibit religious tolerance. And we would… pic.twitter.com/iGb675Es8u
Former Central Regional Minister,Kwamena Duncan, has scolded Ningo Prampram MP, Sam George for describing Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as a “religious prostitute.”
Sam George accuses Dr Bawumia of being a Muslim by day and a Christian by night because he once mentioned that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour and also failed to speak for Muslim girls on the issue of hijabs and fasting when the need arose.
However Mr Duncan has rubbished all such claims as he believes Sam George is only determined to undermine Dr Bawumia’s religion.
“Otherwise if we were to put our head to use, Isn’t that the best for our country? Where there are no chinese walls, that you are here and we are there, that we become united despite our religious differences? A member of parliament doesn’t see the good act of this?
Certain parts of the discussion reveal the following:
Kwamena Duncan: So if they are celebrating Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha and he purchases rice and oil to present to them, and they subsequently pray for him, he is saying….?
Voice of Allotey Jacobs: In essence they are prostitutes so they should take…[Laughter]
“So it’s up to him as a member of parliament to downplay the religion of someone else like that,“ Mr. Duncan concluded.
Samuel Nartey George described Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as a religious prostitute on the Good Morning Ghana programme on Tuesday, November 7
He says the MP said the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Paty (NPP) cannot be trusted when his choice of religion is unknown.
He argued that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is a Muslim by day and a Christian by night.
He accused the Vice President of refusing to speak for Muslims in the past when they needed him.
He then concluded that Sam George is not someone who should be allowed to lead the country as president.
“You are talking about a man whose character you cannot vouch for. Do you know whether our vice president is a Muslim or a Christian? Who told you he’s a Muslim? He’s a Muslim by day and Christian by night,” Sam George opined.
Member of parliament for the Ningo Prampram Constituency, Samuel Nartey George, has expressed regret over what he claims to be an increase in kidney failure cases among young people.
The MP claims that although some people may have received the diagnosis for no apparent reason, many of the cases among young people are the result of bad decisions made in life, such as the widespread use of shisha, or flavor-infused tobacco.
“I am going to say something that Ghanaian youth will not be happy about but look, we are a very irresponsible people when it comes to our healthcare and our life choices.
“There are people who have developed kidney challenges by no fault of theirs but a majority of those reporting with this thing is just horrible, irresponsible life choices,” he stated during an interview on Joynews.
“They are smoking like locomotive engines, they have dumped cigarettes and have jumped on that killer called shisha and it is killing; you drive in Accra, around East Legon and you see young people putting off steam like locomotive engines all in the name of fashion,” he added.
The recent surge in documented cases of kidney failure has ignited a significant level of public apprehension within the community. Adding to this concern is the extended closure of the Renal Unit at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, which has been unavailable for dialysis services for some time.
In the midst of these growing concerns, Sam George highlighted that crucial health and lifestyle decisions, including dietary, beverage, and inhalation choices, have become pivotal factors contributing to the declining health among the younger population.
“They’ve flavoured death for you in pineapple, watermelon and whatever flavour and you are licking death. I mean, we are not eating well. Alcohol; we are a country of just 33 million and we have almost a hundred different types of bitters. I mean, all kinds of concoctions in the name of aphrodisiacs.
“It’s like we are a sex crazy generation that needs to do anything and everything just to prove a point. We are drinking the wrong things, eating the wrong things and smoking our lungs into oblivion. We need to check our life choices as a country. It’s a problem; it is a pandemic,” the MP lamented.
Ghanaian youths are irresponsible – Sam George
Via: Joy News #INDNews R2bees | Nana Ama McBrown | Asamoah Gyan | Victor Osimhen | Messi | Bawumia | Copa America | Shatta Wale pic.twitter.com/SHMNr090U2
Ningo-Prampram MP, Sam George, has issued a warning that he may impede President Akufo-Addo’s movement within his constituency unless the President takes action to repair the deteriorating Afienya-Dawhenya bridge.
Despite his ongoing efforts to secure funds for the bridge’s repair, Sam George expressed frustration over the lack of action.
During an interview on JoyNews’ AM show on Wednesday, he explained that, if necessary, his final course of action would involve collaborating with his constituents to restrict the President’s mobility.
“If he is saying and I agree with him and I have served notice on a bridge in Ningo-Prampram that if the President does not work on it and I see him crossing my constituency again, I will stop his convoy with my constituents,” he said in an interview on JoyNews.
Mr George on the back of that explained that for half of the year, all attempts to get the relevant authorities to address the bad nature of the bridge have proven futile hence his drastic decision.
“I have spent the last six months literarily begging in this country to fix the bridge. Kissing every backside I need to kiss. They are waiting for my constituents to die before they fix that bridge,” he lamented.
He emphasized his genuine concern, fearing that it might take a tragic incident resulting in loss of life for the government to take action. Sam George made a direct appeal to the Minister of Roads to promptly address the situation to prevent any such unfortunate occurrence.
Furthermore, Sam George responded to the aspiring contender’s accusation by highlighting that such suggestions implied a failure of the ruling government. He noted that the year 2022 had been declared as the “year of roads” by the President, making it evident that, despite this declaration, the living conditions of his constituents had not seen substantial improvement.
Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, has described Ghanaian youth as showing a lack of responsibility for their health. This remark comes amid a rising incidence of cases among young individuals requiring dialysis.
While Sam George acknowledges that not all individuals may bear direct responsibility for their health issues, he condemns the widespread neglect of adopting safe and healthy lifestyles among the youth.
“I am not a fan of hospitals, but my wife has insisted you need to get yourself checked at the year, mid-year… just to be sure everything is intact. We all just need to take care of ourselves, and I have been talking about it, especially with this dialysis thing, you know, and I am saying that, when you look at people reporting with kidney failures, it is young people. It is more and more young people. And it’s because we… look, I’m going to say something that Ghanaian youth will not be very happy about, but we are very irresponsible when it comes to our healthcare and our life choices,” Sam George said in an interview on Joy News’ AM Show.
Sam George specifically pointed out some unhealthy behaviours among the youth today. “They are smoking like locomotive engines. They have dumped cigarettes and have jumped on that killer called shisha. You drive around Accra, East Legon and you see young people puffing off steam like locomotive engines, all in the name of fashion. They’ve flavoured death for you in pineapple, watermelon, whatever, and you are licking death,” he stated.
“We are not eating well, alcohol, for a country of just 33 million people, we have almost 100 different types of bitters. All kinds of concoctions in the name of aphrodisiacs. We are drinking the wrong things, eating the wrong things, and smoking our lungs into oblivion. We need to check our life choices as a country. It is a problem; it is a pandemic!” He further expressed.
Expanding his concern to fellow lawmakers, Sam George cited the recent loss of Philip Atta Basoah, the Member of Parliament for Kumawu in the Ashanti Region, as a cautionary tale. He believes that stress played a significant role in Basoah’s sudden passing, which he linked to an extended parliamentary meeting the two had attended the night before Basoah’s death.
To mitigate such risks, Sam George urged not only the public but also lawmakers, who often engage in lengthy parliamentary debates, to make regular check-ups and health assessments a priority.
“Recently we lost a member of parliament, Hon. Basoah, may his soul rest in peace. It was stress-related. We need to manage this, especially for members of parliament who sit for hours on end,” he added.
Sam George’s comments underline the urgent need for a renewed focus on public health and responsible lifestyle choices among Ghana’s youth.
The Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, has described Ghanaian youth as showing a lack of responsibility for their health. This remark comes amid a rising incidence of cases among young individuals requiring dialysis.
While Sam George acknowledges that not all individuals may bear direct responsibility for their health issues, he condemns the widespread neglect of adopting safe and healthy lifestyles among the youth.
“I am not a fan of hospitals, but my wife has insisted you need to get yourself checked at the year, mid-year… just to be sure everything is intact. We all just need to take care of ourselves, and I have been talking about it, especially with this dialysis thing, you know, and I am saying that, when you look at people reporting with kidney failures, it is young people. It is more and more young people. And it’s because we… look, I’m going to say something that Ghanaian youth will not be very happy about, but we are very irresponsible when it comes to our healthcare and our life choices,” Sam George said in an interview on Joy News’ AM Show.
Sam George specifically pointed out some unhealthy behaviours among the youth today. “They are smoking like locomotive engines. They have dumped cigarettes and have jumped on that killer called shisha. You drive around Accra, East Legon and you see young people puffing off steam like locomotive engines, all in the name of fashion. They’ve flavoured death for you in pineapple, watermelon, whatever, and you are licking death,” he stated.
“We are not eating well, alcohol, for a country of just 33 million people, we have almost 100 different types of bitters. All kinds of concoctions in the name of aphrodisiacs. We are drinking the wrong things, eating the wrong things, and smoking our lungs into oblivion. We need to check our life choices as a country. It is a problem; it is a pandemic!” He further expressed.
Expanding his concern to fellow lawmakers, Sam George cited the recent loss of Philip Atta Basoah, the Member of Parliament for Kumawu in the Ashanti Region, as a cautionary tale. He believes that stress played a significant role in Basoah’s sudden passing, which he linked to an extended parliamentary meeting the two had attended the night before Basoah’s death.
To mitigate such risks, Sam George urged not only the public but also lawmakers, who often engage in lengthy parliamentary debates, to make regular check-ups and health assessments a priority.
“Recently we lost a member of parliament, Hon. Basoah, may his soul rest in peace. It was stress-related. We need to manage this, especially for members of parliament who sit for hours on end,” he added.
Sam George’s comments underline the urgent need for a renewed focus on public health and responsible lifestyle choices among Ghana’s youth.
Ghanaian youths are irresponsible – Sam George
Via: Joy News #INDNews R2bees | Nana Ama McBrown | Asamoah Gyan | Victor Osimhen | Messi | Bawumia | Copa America | Shatta Wale pic.twitter.com/SHMNr090U2
The Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, has pointed out that the practice of projecting superficial ideologies from telenovelas onto real-life marriages is a major contributing factor to divorce.
He described this phenomenon as delusional, stating that the fairy tale mindset often promoted by these shows can lead to high expectations and impatience within viewers.
In an interview with Berla Mundi, he said “Divorce rates are high because people are watching too much telenovela. Movies have taught us a certain culture of impatience. No two people can live together without issues. In most movies, the guy does something the lady doesn’t like, then she calls her lawyer and sues him and they end the marriage. They both go their separate ways. They move on and find someone better. That’s not real life. Movies are scripts. At a point, they tell you to cut and take it again. In life, there is no cut.
“That’s one of the things the LGBTQ people are doing with the movies, in 2011 when I went to Kumasi, if anyone heard about money sacrifice, it was a scary thing. So, we were accustomed to it by the power of movies. So that’s the challenge of marriage as well in young couples,” he said.
Sam George, revealed that outside of work, he primarily spends quality time with his wife.
“When I am not doing politics, I am lying by my wife,” he established in an interview with TV3’s Berla Mundi.
Sam George, who recently celebrated 11 years of marriage with his wife, established that it entails a lot of work.
“It’s been a good journey. Marriage is work but it is a good enterprise, especially when you’re doing it with the right person. Marriage is not a noun; it is a verb.”
Sam George shared that when he encounters misunderstandings with his wife, he has adopted a new approach of staying silent and steadfast.
“I used to free my mind when I was angry. I say whatever is on my mind but now I have stopped that because I have realized that after we settle our fights, I realize some of the things I said were totally wrong. Maybe in some cases, I was the one who was initially offended, but because of the things I said, now I have to apologize. But you see, even the tongue and teeth fight. The only reason I will support walking away from a marriage is emotional and physical abuse,” he added.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has expressed optimism that the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values 2021 being considered by Parliament will be enacted into law before Christmas this year.
He made this known during an interaction with the media.
“When this law passes hopefully before Christmas this year, when it’s passed it then means that your editorial policy will need to take into cognizance the content of movies or videos that you air to ensure that it does not infringe on the law,” he added.
The bill, also known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ bill, has been under review in Parliament for approximately two years, sparking debates and discussions both within Ghana and on the international stage.
The bill seeks to criminalize activities related to homosexuality and impose penalties on offenders.
However, the MP has emphasized that once the law is enacted, editorial policies will need to be revised to ensure compliance, and any content contrary to the law, particularly in videos and movies, will not be tolerated.
He has also voiced his frustrations about pressure to adopt certain lifestyles that are inconsistent with Ghana’s culture and traditions.
He emphasized that Ghana should uphold its cultural and traditional values, and passing the anti-gay law is essential to maintain these values.
“They have our cultures we have our customs, our customs are not pro LGBTQ, you are coming to our country to come and do business or whatever here and you that I should leave the God given highway and go and enter the gutter. “
Earlier this year, Sam George responded to a claim made by the US Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Virginia Palmer, regarding the potential loss of investor confidence if the anti-gay bill is passed into law.
“Ghana is a very welcoming, tolerant society, with lots of interreligious harmony, lots of ethnic harmony that makes Ghana strong and stable, and attractive for investments.
“I hope it stays that way with regard to the LGBTQI Community. There is money to be made, and the color of your money is green or red but if there is discrimination or worse then that will send a signal to not just LGBTQ investors but other American companies that Ghana is less welcoming than I am telling people that it is now,” US Ambassador Virginia Palmer said in an interview on Thursday, August 10,” she added.
The MP reiterated that Ghana remains open and welcoming to American investors, highlighting the nation’s stable and viable democracy.
In a Twitter post, he emphasized Ghana’s readiness to embrace investors who value principles of integrity and respect for the cultural values of the Ghanaian society.
“Dear Virginia Palmer, US Ambassador to Ghana, I have seen videos of your comments at the US-Ghana Business Summit. “You have expressed fears that investors from the US would not find Ghana attractive if we as Ghanaians uphold our values and reject the depravity of LGBTQI. I find that really surprising,” he stated.
The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values 2021 was introduced to Parliament in July 2021 and underwent its first reading on August 3 of the same year.
The bill was presented by a group of eight members, including Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, Rev John Ntim Forjour, Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini, and Rita Naa Odoley Sowah.
Other members who introduced the bill include Helen Adjoa Ntoso and Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor.
While some segments of society support the bill due to its alignment with Ghana’s cultural and religious values, it has faced criticism from human rights activists who argue that it infringes upon the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ individuals.
Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey Goerge, has refused to render an apology to Wing Commander Kwame Asare Boateng for his watchman comment.
On Tuesday, the Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr Ernest Addison failed to show up to receive the petition from the NDC MPs who participated in the #OccupyBoGprotest.
The leadership of the OccupyBoG protest was met by Wing Commander Kwame Asare Boateng and a host of the Bank’s leaders, who told the protesters that Dr Addison was in a meeting with a team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and was therefore unavailable to receive the petition.
BoG Director of Security, Wing Commander (Rtd) Kwame Asare-Boateng (Esq)
Upset by the development, Mr Sam George called Dr Addison a coward for sending a “watchman to come and meet us” instead of being present.
“We were told stories that he wasn’t well and later told that he would come and receive our petition and we stood there for an hour and more and still failed to show up and sent a watchman to come and meet us.”
“I’ve always maintained that man (Dr. Ernest Addison) is a coward, and we will protest till he comes out to receive our petition,” he said.
His comment did not bode well for some members of the public, including Pius Enam Hadzide, Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA). He called on Mr George to apologise.
Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has condoled with the family of Enoch Teye Mensah, popularly known as E.T Mensah over their recent loss.
Mr Nartey George’s predecessor, known to be a seasoned politician, passed away at the age of 77.
His death occurred on Sunday evening, October 1, while he was receiving medical treatment in South Africa.
Reacting to the news, Mr Nartey George extended his condolences and those of his constituents to the bereaved family.
“On behalf of the National Democratic Congress, Ningo-Prampram Constituency, I wish to extend our profound condolences to the family of the late Honourable Enoch Teye Mensah. The late former Member of Parliament for our beloved constituency, who, until his demise, was a Member of the current Council of State served our Nation in several capacities for over four decades,” he wrote in a statement dated October 2, 2023.
The statement added, “We pray for the peaceful repose of his soul and strength for his family left behind.”
As a dedicated member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), E.T. Mensah served in various notable capacities, including Minister for Education, Minister of Youth and Sports, Mayor of Accra, and representative of the Council of State for the Greater Accra Region.
E.T Mensah
E.T. Mensah was initially elected as a member of Parliament during the 1996 General Election, serving in the second parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana.
He continued to represent the Ningo-Prampram constituency until 2016, when he lost the NDC’s parliamentary primary to Samuel Nartey George.
In the public’s eye, the two did not see eye to eye.
Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, has advised the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to promptly dismiss the petition against Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah’s appointment as Director of Election and ICT.
He argues that the petition lacks merit and could distract Dr. Omane Boamah from his duties.
In a letter addressed to the NDC’s Council of Elders, Samuel Nartey George called on the petitioner to withdraw the complaint, emphasizing the importance of unity within the party to secure victory in the 2024 general elections.
According to him, the party should focus on winning the upcoming elections, and this should be the primary concern for all party members.
“I urge you to dismiss the said petition with alacrity as it has the propensity to shift the focus of the appointee from the solemn task we have handed him.
“Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah is an asset to our great tradition, and we must use this as an example that our Party appreciates the sacrifice of young people and truly believes in their abilities to deliver whenever the need arises.”
“I am a young man deeply connected to the ‘streets of Ghana’, and I can assure you that the appointee is the best choice at this given time.”
Dr. Omane Boamah, a former Minister of Communications, was appointed as the Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in preparation for the critical 2024 elections.
The appointment was announced in a press release issued on Thursday, August 24, which also included a list of other new appointments within the party for the upcoming elections.
Dr. Omane Boamah, a medical doctor and health policy planning and financing analyst, assumed the role previously held by Elvis Afriyie Ankrah since 2019.
However, a concerned supporter and social activist named Delanyo Agbe petitioned the party to reconsider Dr. Omane Boamah’s appointment.
In his letter to the party’s leadership, Agbe argued that Dr. Omane Boamah lacked the expertise necessary to effectively fulfill his duties for the party to secure victory in the 2024 elections.
“I would like to draw your attention to the recent appointment of Dr. Edward Omane Boamah as the NDC’s Director of Election and ICT.
“While I acknowledge the party’s intent to diversify leadership, it is my belief that this particular appointment requires careful review due to concerns regarding Dr Omane Boamah’s competence in the areas crucial to this role.”
Samuel Nartey George has dismissed the concerns raised by Mr. Agbe, asserting that Dr. Omane Boamah is the most qualified individual within the party to hold the position. According to Mr. George, Dr. Omane Boamah possesses the necessary qualifications and expertise needed for the role, making him the ideal candidate within the party at present.
Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, has thrown his weight behind Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah for his recent role as Elections Director for the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Some members of the opposition party are dissatisfied with the position Omane Boamah currently occupies.
Mr Sam George has written a letter to the party’s Council of Elders to dismiss the petition against Dr. Omane Boamah’s appointment as Director of Election and ICT.
Monday 18th September 2023
Dear NDC Council of Elders,
I bring you warm greetings from the beautiful twin cities of Ningo and Prampram.
I am writing to you as a dedicated member of our great National Democratic Congress. I am currently the Deputy Ranking Member of the Select Committee on Communications, which exercises Parliamentary oversight of the Ministries of Communications & Digitalization and Information. I currently serve as the Secretary-General of the African Parliamentary Network on Internet Governance, the premier body recognised by the African Union Commission and the United Nations Multi Advisory Group to the UN Secretary-General, responsible for data policy and Internet governance issues. I have previously served on the Board of the National Information Technology Agency and also as a Communications Specialist to President John Dramani Mahama. I have run an ICT practice for almost two decades and have consulted on UNDP and World Bank-sponsored projects in the country. I speak at International Fora as a resource person for international CSOs, the AUC and the UN on technology, data policy, cybersecurity and internet governance.
Forgive the lengthy layout of the credentials above. It is necessary to establish that I have some level of competence on the subject matter to erase any doubts, if any, exist. My letter to you has become necessary following a petition addressed to your good selves and has become a matter of public knowledge. The petition touches on the suitability or otherwise of the nomination and appointment of Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah as the Director of Elections and ICT. I recognise the democratic rights of the petitioner to state his discomfort or disagreement with the appointment freely. However, that right must be exercised based on facts and evidenced by substance. I trust that you, our respected Council of Elders, will arrive at the best decision on the petition after consideration of my letter.
The petition raises issues that I will address individually.
LACK OF EXPERTISE:
I find it highly troubling that the suggestion is even made that the appointee needs more election management and ICT expertise. The appointee has served our great Party in government as Deputy Minister for Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation from 2009 to February 2012. He also served as the Minister for Communications from 2013-2016. In both Ministries, he had responsibilities that covered the ICT sphere. As Minister for Communication, the nominee’s extensive track record is evident. Our government saw growth in leaps and bounds under his leadership in the ICT sector.
The current digitalisation drive in our country runs on the backbone infrastructure that the appointee oversaw, covering investments worth over US$300 million. From the 770km Eastern Corridor Fibre, which has opened up over 160 communities to the power of the internet, to the over 100 enhanced Community Information Hubs to the Accra Digital Center that has provided over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs and placed Ghana as a significant BPO destination to the several e-initiatives undertaken under the e-Ghana project that covered the Judiciary, Parliament, Health, Education, National Security, Immigration and Cybersecurity to the great strides we made in the areas of rural telephony and the National Data Center.
The footprints of the appointee are indelible and establish his remarkable credentials as not just a competent technology leader but a result-oriented leader who can build effective teams and exercise adequate oversight to achieve stellar results. If the appointee could accomplish these and more in four years for our government, I have absolute faith in him to deliver for our party. Indeed, it is even on record that he once strove to build a Mini Data Centre for our party at the national headquarters but for the inability of the then National Executives to agree on which office space to dedicate for the sensitive ICT project.
RISK TO PARTY CREDIBILITY:
The point made by the petitioner is vague. It needs to establish what credibility risk arises by appointing Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah (A former Minister for Communications and former Deputy Minister in two ministries between 2009 and 2013). A suggestion that “appointing an individual without substantial experience in the field could undermine the party’s credibility and tarnish its reputation” cannot apply to the appointee. I have
established above a summary of the appointee’s experience and competencies, and as such, I am confident that this fear would not materialise as the appointee is well suited to ensure we are not saddled with such challenges.
NEED FOR SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE:
After reading the petitioner’s submission on this point, I reached the respected professional conclusion that he lacks a fundamental understanding of technology leadership. It has long been established that the most efficient and effective technology leaders are not necessarily themselves geeks but those with leadership and administrative acumen and technical understanding. Technology geeks do not necessarily make the best leaders, and this is evidenced when you look at the CEOs of most major technology corporations. Persons with leadership and administrative acumen who appreciate and understand technology are the CEOs and COOs of many Silicon Valley firms.
In this particular case, the appointee has vast administrative expertise as a former Student Leader, Medical Doctor, Deputy Minister, Minister and Deputy Campaign Coordinator in 2012 and has shown stellar knowledge of the technology landscape when he served as Minister for Communications and when he represented Ghana at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the GSMA on several occasions. A case that readily comes to mind is the award Ghana received from the International Telecommunications Union under his watch for our homegrown solution to rural telephony challenges. This solution has been replicated in other parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In addition, under his leadership, Ghana was elected to serve on the Council of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for four (4) more years with 130 votes out of 165 ballot papers issued at the Plenipotentiary Conference of the ITU in October 2014 in Busan South Korea. (https://www.myjoyonline.com/ghana-elected-to-the-council-of-the-international-telecommunication-itu-union/#!)
Furthermore, as a technology leader, Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah represented Ghana competently at the international level and successfully lobbied and hosted delegates from the African Region in Ghana for the Regional Development Forum and the Africa Regional Preparatory Meeting ahead of the 2014 World Telecommunication Development.
It is also important to note that the claim that the Director of Elections and IT must possess specialised knowledge to safeguard against hacking attempts and voter data breaches exposes a need for more understanding of the subject matter by the petitioner. When has this been a requirement in previous appointments in our Party? No one in the world can prevent hacking attempts or data breaches! Absolutely no one! What we require is a team leader who assembles a team that has all the competencies to build a robust system with adequate guardrails to protect the systems in place if hacking attempts happen. Even Google and Microsoft get hacked, but what is essential are the systems in place to ensure process continuity and disaster mitigation. Having experienced first-hand the appointee overseeing the construction of the first Tier 3 Data Center in West Africa under the John Mahama administration and the safety and disaster recovery systems put in place which continue to serve our Nation and its technology and national security needs, I am confident and assured in his ability to replicate same systems for our beloved Party.
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT:
My dear Elders, the facts of the matter cannot be further from the truth. As a former Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports (February 2012 to January 2013 – during the election year of 2012), the appointee has distinguished himself in his relationship with the youth of our party and the country. He is young, in touch with different age demographics, tech-savvy, and has one of the most active presence on several social media platforms. He is a voice from our Party that connects and resonates with the country’s youth. I state that the appointee has a better rapport with the youth of our party and country on technological platforms than any previous appointee to the said position in the history of our Party. This is the stark truth. Moreover, Dr. Omane Boamah successfully led the youth of Ghana to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in South Africa and brought them back home safely without a hitch. The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the 2012 ECOWAS Youth Games further operationalised the Mathematics and Science Scholarship Scheme (MASTESS) and the Better Ghana ICT Project, which benefitted many Ghanaian youth.
My beloved and respected Council of Elders, this particular Party appointment sent the most emphatic signal of our seriousness and resolve to annexe power in the 2024 polls. Let no one seek to, for whatever motivation, walk back such a positive and pragmatic step on which our 2024 electoral victory is anchored. The appointee – An ICT Leader, NDC Deputy Campaign Coordinator for the successful 2012 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, and Secretary to the successful 2011 Get Atta Mills Elected (GAME) campaign team – is loyal, dedicated, focused, analytical and practical. He is a pragmatic perfectionist and is meticulously intentional and thorough. His attention to fine details is rare. His technical ability is without doubt, and his record is without blemish. Moreover, he has quickly set the entire party structures in readiness, exemplified by his management of the ongoing Limited Registration Exercise by the Electoral Commission.
I urge you to dismiss the said petition with alacrity as it has the propensity to shift the focus of the appointee from the solemn task we have handed him. Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah is an asset to our great tradition, and we must use this as an example that our Party appreciates the sacrifice of young people and truly believes in their abilities to deliver whenever the need arises. I am a young man deeply connected to the ‘streets of Ghana’, and I can assure you that the appointee is the best choice at this given time.
I urge the petitioner to withdraw his petition and come on board for us to work towards the rescue mission to build the Ghana we want together.
Ghanaian rapper Wanlov Da Kubolor has alleged that Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George, and legal practitioner Moses Foh Amoaning’s campaign against LGBTQ+ rights in Ghana is being financially supported by international organizations.
Wanlov Da Kubolor made this claim during an exclusive interview with NKONKONSA.com. When asked to provide evidence for his assertion, he mentioned that Sam George had attended an international anti-LGBTQ+ conference focused on combating same-sex activities globally, and Sam George himself had spoken about it.
“Amoaning and that group of people are being sponsored by an American company, World Congress of Family. These are group of church evangelical people which are actually racist, anti-Islamic. These are the group of people that support Sam George to push this bill,” he said.
Sam George has been a vocal opponent of same-sex activities and has been advocating for the passage of an anti-LGBTQ+ bill in Ghana for several years.
This bill, titled the “Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2022,” was unanimously adopted by Ghana’s Parliament. It aims to regulate human sexual rights and prohibit LGBTQ+ and related activities in the country.
Sam George has yet to respond to the allegations made by the controversial rapper, who is known for his support and sympathy toward the LGBTQ+ community.
Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has clapped back at a netizen who slammed him on social media over the bad roads in his constituency.
On September 13, a Twitter user by name @ghanamunsemsem called out Mr Nartey George for failing to ensure the bad roads in Ningo-Prampram are fixed.
The tweep claimed that the legislator deliberately refused to answer a question on the deplorable state of roads in the constituency.
“Honorable @samgeorgegh ignored our question on why he has horrible roads in his constituency to tweet posts that will help him retain power. They see and ignore our concerns always. Look at this.”
This remark was not welcomed by Mr Sam George who decided to educate the netizen on who is responsible for road construction and the necessary repair work in the country.
In his reply, Mr George noted that the Minister for Roads and the District Chief Executive are responsible for such an initiative. He therefore entreated the concerned citizen to do the needful and reach out to the appropriate authority.
For him, he would “normally continue to ignore arrogantly ignorant folks, but you are intent on spreading your uneducated ignorance,” hence the need for clarification.
“Get an education on whose role it is to construct roads. When Parliament passes the appropriations bill with a spending line for road construction, do you see the name of an MP there? Why did you not tag the Minister of Roads or the DCE who represents government and is responsible for development? I have NEVER campaigned on roads and CAN NEVER be held responsible for the colossal failure of those in government whose responsibility it is and who are paid with our taxes,” he wrote.
He therefore advised the tweep to “Next time, take your social studies classes seriously before embarrassing your teachers and parents on social media.”
I would normally continue to ignore arrogantly ignorant folks, but you are intent on spreading your uneducated ignorance. Get an education on whose role it is to construct roads. When Parliament passes the appropriations bill with a spending line for road construction, do you see… https://t.co/jy2NyLgenr
Ghanaian vlogger and LGBTQ right advocate Kwadwo Sheldon has attacked Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Goerge, blaming him for the assaulted on male teacher alleged to have engaged in sex with a fellow man.
An unsettling incident ensued involving an alleged assault on a male teacher in the town of Blue Town, located in Prestea, Western Region.
Reacting to the unfortunate incident, captured in a viral social media video, the ignorant blogger blamed Sam George-a leading sponsor of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Value bill-for the attacked.
“Blame Sam George for this nonsense!! Blame him!” he tweeted reacting to the video.
This reaction comes as shock when the MP has over and over again asserted that he does not endorse the mutiny on members of LGBTQ community, but the bill is just seeking to correct and preserve Ghanaian values
The Member of Parliament (MP) representing Ningo-Prampram, Sam George, has called upon Parliament to stand firm and resist the warnings by Virginia Palmer, the US Ambassador to Ghana, regarding the proposed anti-LGBTQ Bill.
In an interview with the media, Sam George stressed the importance of upholding Ghanaian values and cultural beliefs, rather than yielding to external pressures or advisories.
He emphasized the significance of safeguarding Ghana’s cultural identity and principles, asserting that Ghanaians should recognize that their portrayal determines how they are perceived and treated.
Sam George argued that maintaining integrity and a strong value system is paramount, particularly in business partnerships, and that succumbing to financial incentives at the expense of cultural values could tarnish Ghana’s reputation and discourage meaningful collaborations.
“It is high time Ghanaians begin to realize that the way we sell ourselves is how we will be bought and that this is a sovereign nation and in fact, for anybody who goes into business or partnership, the first interest of any potential business partner is a sense of integrity and a value system and so if you tell the Ghanaian people that our culture frowns on this (LGBTQ) but because of a few thousand or million dollars worth of investment that is not even proven will come, you push it aside, Ghana will be seen as the country that does not have integrity and any true businessman will not come here to work with us.
“So let us not buy into the rhetoric and let us stop regurgitating that rhetoric that if we pass the bill, something will happen to us,” he added.
He encouraged fellow Ghanaians not to embrace the rhetoric that passing the anti-LGBTQ Bill would lead to negative consequences, challenging the notion that economic interests should dictate the country’s moral stance.
In response to Ambassador Palmer’s concerns that the bill could deter foreign investors and exporters, Sam George proposed that Ghana should leverage its unique strengths, particularly its safe and vibrant democracy, which has attracted international organizations and corporations to set up their headquarters in the country.
He advised against compromising these strengths for short-term gains, urging Ghana to stand its ground during negotiations and avoid being swayed by external pressures.
Ultimately, Sam George’s message centered on the idea that Ghana’s value is not solely determined by economic indicators, but also by its cultural heritage, democratic stability, and ethical principles.
Member of Parliament representing Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has quashed concerns raised by US Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, regarding the enactment of Ghana’s Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill (commonly known as the anti-LGBTQI bill).
During the US-Ghana Business Expo held in Accra on August 10, 2023, Ambassador Palmer cautioned that any form of discrimination against LGBTQ individuals could convey an unfavorable message to American investors at large, and therefore, should be avoided.
“Ghana is a very welcoming, tolerant society, lots of interreligious, interethnic harmony, and that is what makes Ghana strong, stable, and attractive for investment. I hope it stays that way with regards to the LGBT community.
“And again, there is money to be made if the colour of your money is green or red; it is Ghanaian, but if there is discrimination or worse, then that will send a signal to not just LGBT investors but other American investors that Ghana is less welcoming than I am telling people that it is now. So, I hope it will stay welcoming,” she told journalists.
But reacting to her comment, Sam Nartey George noted that there is very little likelihood for that happening as businesses continue to thrive in the US despite the implementation of anti-LGBTQ laws in some states.
“I am confident it should not be a worry as our intended legislation is NOT different from American laws in states like Florida and Kentucky. I believe the US Supreme Court agrees largely with Ghana’s position,” he wrote.
He also expressed disappointment in the US ambassador for suggesting that values play no role in business investment by investors.
“You have expressed fears that investors from the US would not find Ghana attractive if we as Ghanaians uphold our values and reject the depravity of LGBTQI. I find that really surprising.
“Are American investors looking to invest in a country and with partners who have no values? I thought the basic test of a potential partner is integrity and values. Ghana, as you know, is very intolerant of religious extremism. Has that made American investors wary of Ghana as an intolerant investment destination?” the MP quizzed.
View Sam George’s full post below:
Dear Virginia Palmer, US Ambassador to Ghana, I have seen videos of your comments at the US-Ghana Business Summit.
You have expressed fears that investors from the US would not find Ghana attractive if we as Ghanaians uphold our values and reject the depravity of LGBTQI. I find that really surprising.
Are American investors looking to invest in a Country and with partners who have no values? I thought the basic test of a potential partner is integrity and values? Ghana as you know is very intolerant of religious extremism.
Has that made American investors wary of Ghana as an intolerant investment destination?
Let me reassure you and the U.S. Embassy Ghana that Ghana remains welcoming and open to American investors as a stable, viable democracy. We welcome investors who value the principles of integrity and respect the cultural values of their partners.
I am confident it should not be a worry as our intended legislation is NOT different from American laws in states like Florida and Kentucky. I believe the US Supreme Court agrees largely with Ghana’s position.
Cheers to a mutually beneficial business relationship between Ghana and the US.
The Ningo Prampram Constituency’s Member of Parliament,Sam Nartey George, has alleged that the Tsopoli Police Command in the Greater Accra Region has failed to take legal action against certain police officers who were apprehended for their alleged involvement in the theft of construction materials worth US$7 million from the abandoned Saglemi Housing Project.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on Tuesday, August 8th, George claimed that constituents from his area caught these police officers red-handed as they were taking construction materials from the Saglemi Housing Project site.
Although the suspects were surrendered to the police, no legal measures were initiated. The implicated officers argued they were following superiors’ orders.
Sam George had disregarded earlier theft reports from constituents, doubting their credibility.
Nonetheless, a late-night call from associates informed him, prompting him to rush to the scene of the ongoing theft.
He recounted, “At 1 am, my guys called me and said, ‘Honourable, we’ve been telling you, you said we are lying, now we’ve caught them.’ So, I drove to the site at 1 am and caught police officers with a KIA Bongo truck that had loaded tiles, sanitary wares, toilet bowls and all from the site.”
The suspects were taken into custody and transported to the Tsopoli Police Station, then subsequently to the Tema Regional Command.
Despite this, no further action has been observed, and Sam George attributed the inaction to the suspects’ claims of following orders from their superiors.
The MP went on to emphasize that this misconduct transpired under the current government’s watch. He highlighted that security forces, including police officers, were stationed at the Saglemi Housing Project site, ostensibly to safeguard it. However, a considerable amount of valuable building materials, including tiles, cables, and pipes, were reportedly stolen.
The Saglemi Housing Project, initiated in 2016, experienced a hiatus after the government asserted that the project did not align with the best interests of Ghanaians.
Former government officials are currently facing charges related to alleged financial loss to the state in the execution of the project. In contrast, the present administration has launched a new housing project at Pokuase.
Former President John Dramani Mahama criticized President Akufo-Addo for abandoning the Saglemi Housing project, which was initiated during his tenure. Mahama labeled the decision to abandon the project while allocating significant funds to the controversial National Cathedral as “unacceptable.”
He accused the Akufo-Addo government of prioritizing personal interests over the welfare of ordinary citizens.
Sam George echoed this sentiment, asserting that it was inappropriate for the government to spend substantial resources on the National Cathedral project while neglecting to allocate funds to complete the Saglemi Housing Project, which could benefit numerous Ghanaian families.
He concluded by highlighting the government’s apparent misplaced priorities, questioning their inability to raise funds to finalize the Saglemi housing project while concurrently allocating resources to what he referred to as “the largest civil excavation in Africa.”
The allegations of theft and the failure to prosecute alleged perpetrators have added to the discourse surrounding the Saglemi Housing Project and raised concerns about accountability within the security forces.
Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has challenged the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association to execute their threat of lawsuit over money laundering claims he leveled against stakeholders .
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, July 22, the MP stated that the real estate industry in Ghana is a hoax used to cover up money laundering activities happening in the country.
“The real estate business in Ghana is money laundering. The cost of real estate in Ghana is not justifiable by any stretch.
“You keep seeing all these new high-rise buildings going up and they are selling them for half a million dollars, and they keep buying among themselves,” he said.
Explaining how alleged money laundering works in the real estate business, he stated that several parties in the industry engage in buying and selling in order to convert their “dirty money” into “clean money.”
His comments did not sit well with stakeholders in the real estate industry.
The Executive Council of the Ghana Real Estate Association (GREDA) demanded an apology and a retraction of the allegation within seven days in a letter dated July 25, 2023.
In response to the letter, Mr Nartey George refused to render an apology. He stood by his words.
“Let me start by stating that I have absolutely no intention to render an apology, qualified or not, nor make any retraction. As a public office holder, I am minded first by my fidelity to the truth, my conscience and the general wellbeing of the Ghanaian people. These considerations in my opinion supersede the whims of any individual or specific grouping,” he noted in a release dated July 26.
It was expected that following the expiration of the ultimatum, Mr Sam George would be in court, however that is not the case.
Calling the bluff of GREDA in an interview on JoyNews on August 8, the Ningo-Prampram legislator, dared the Association to come after him as promised. The MP threatened to let the cat out of the bag should GREDA make an attempt to fight his claims.
“I’ve spoken about money laundering in this country and I am still waiting for GREDA, Ebo Bournful and his people. It has been more than 7 days. You said you were taking me to court. I am waiting for you. Whether court or Privileges Committee.
“I am waiting for you so that I will expose and the rot that is going on there since you people say you want to fight me. I’ve spoken about money laundering in real estate and don’t forget you are having Ministers of state who have millions of dollars sitting in their houses. They need to clean up the money,” he said.
The representative of the Ningo Prampram constituency in Parliament has made a resolute commitment to address any private developer attempting to approach the Saglemi housing project.
In his perspective, he sees the government’s choice to hand over the project to private developers as a stratagem to perpetrate theft against the nation.
During an appearance on JoyNews on August 8, 2023, Sam George expressed the emotional impact of witnessing the current state of the project, given that he had been present alongside former President John Mahama to inaugurate Saglemi.
“Saglemi is a pain in my heart, every time I drive by the place and I see the structure because, in 2016, I was with President Mahama when he took us there to commission Saglemi. When we got there, we saw it, there was life. And now to see the footage that shows the state of Saglemi is painful, it is heartbreaking.
“I am the member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, any private developer that comes there should be prepared to fight with me. We will fight them. I will carry out the warning that has been sounded by the flagbearer. Any private developer who thinks he is taking this as a gift from the government and wants to sell this to themselves,” he said.
Commenced in 2012 with the aim of providing 5,000 housing units at an overall expenditure of US$200 million, the Saglemi Housing project’s progress has been modest, with only 1,506 of the intended 5,000 units underway.
Concurrently, the government has unveiled a new housing endeavor, involving private developers, that seeks to erect 14,000 housing units.
This scenario has sparked apprehensions regarding the perceived neglect of the Saglemi Housing project.
Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has alleged that police officers were caught by his constituents stealing building materials worth $7m dollars from the site of the Saglemi housing project.
He explained that the site was abandoned while some police and national security officers were deployed to protect the project.
But it came out that they were rather stealing items like tiles, cables and pipes that were meant for completing the project.
He narrated how his constituents were constantly complaining about the theft case to him but he refused to believe them until one day at 1:00am, when they finally managed to get hold of the officers in the act of stealing.
Narrating the incident, the outspoken MP said he received a call, drove to the site, and matched the officers to the police station.
“Over $7m of building materials has been stolen by this government. They abondoned the site, put national security and police officers on the site that they are protecting the site.”
“At 1:00am, so called police officers with a KIA bongo truck had $7m loaded tiles, sanitary wears, toilet bowls and all from the site. We took them to the Tsopoli police station. From there we matched them to the regional police command.”
But according to Sam George, “the case died” because the officers confessed to police authorities that their commander sent them to come for the items.
This revelation was made during an engagement with the media on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.
The MP, thus, has accused the Tsopoli police command of failing to perform their duties since they did not ensure the prosecution of the perpetrators.
Saglemi Housing Project is a public housing project located in Prampram in the Ningo Prampram District in the Greater Accra Region.
It was initiated in 2012 by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) under the John Mahama-administration to ease the accommodation deficit in Ghana.
In April 2019, the former Minister for Works and Housing, Samuel Atta Akyea, hinted at the government’s decision to terminate the housing project.
But President Akufo-Addo, on Tuesday, August 1, held a sod-cutting ceremony to kickstart the construction of 8,000 units of affordable houses with support from the private sector.
Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram constituency, Sam George, has taken a subtle jibe at Nogokpo, a traditional shrine in Ghana, following their issuance of a 14-day ultimatum to Archbishop Charles Agyinasare.
The ultimatum required the renowned pastor to retract statements deemed offensive to Nogokpo and honour a summon by traditional authorities in Nogokpo. However, the renowned Pastor disregarded the 14-day ultimatum and did not turn himself in to the traditional rulers who threatened to show the pastor who controls the cosmic if he fails to show up.
Over sixty (60) days down the line, the Pastor is in shape despite not honouring the summons. Known for his outspoken nature, Sam George seized the opportunity to mock Nogokpo’s assertion of power, suggesting that the cosmic realm had shown its true ruler.
“We were told that we would see who rules the cosmic and we have seen who rules the cosmic realm. There’s one God. Somebody threw a challenge; he gave our leader a 14-day ultimatum to submit to their oracle because he said our leader has offended the oracle and we will see who rules the oracle and if he fails to show up after 14-days.
“Today is I think the 64th or 65th day and we are seeing that Agyinasare is there. I mean we are not taunting anyone. It was a challenge and the challenge has been met,” the MP, further revealing that authorities at Nogokpo issued another 7-day ultimatum after which they said they would take the matter to court.
Asked what the church intends to do to resolve this issue to prevent it from escalating into a deadlock, he said the church intends to thank God for keeping their pastor safe.
Founder of the Perez Chapel International, Archbishop Charles Agyinasare has also mocked the 14-day ultimatum given to him by cult members of a shrine atNogokpo.
During a sermon titled “Who Rules the Cosmic Realm: Dominating the Cosmic Realm,” the televangelist boldly proclaimed that as a child of God, the lesser gods have no power over him.
“That history can never be erased because it was done publicly. All the TV stations took it, social media took it that the gods of thunder and the ancestors will show Agyinasare who controls the cosmic realm and after 60 days we are still here,” Agyinasare said to a loud applause from congregants.
He confidently stated, “I am an example that if you are a child of God and they pour libation and they give you 14 days to live, after 60 days you will still be dancing,” as he danced joyfully in front of his congregants.
Archbishop Agyinasare further taunted Nogokpo by expressing that despite the threats and hullabaloo surrounding his comments about the revered thunder deity in the Volta Region town, he remains unharmed.
He emphasized that his divine mission is not yet complete, and he will live many more years to come.
In June, the chiefs and residents of Nogokpo issued the 14-day ultimatum to the Archbishop to engage in peace talks after he referred to Nogokpo as the “demonic headquarters of the Volta Region.”
However, he has not honored the ultimatums and continues to stand by his statements.
It’s worth noting that the paramount chief of the traditional area that encompasses Nogokpo has distanced himself from the ultimatum, stating that the comments were directed at the Nogokpo shrine, not the Nogokpo people.
He clarified that the shrine is called Gbakadza, not Nogokpo as some have misconstrued.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George is calling for a defamation suit against his colleague, Dr. Kingsley Nyarko, the MP for Kwadaso.
He wants former Deputy Information Minister, Felix Kwakye Ofosu to take legal actions against Dr Nyarko for disseminating rumours that the former government official acquired huge sums of money through illegal channels.
During a discussion centering on the amount of money allegedly stolen from the house of former Sanitation Minister on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV, the Kwadaso MP claimed that Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu bought 2 houses at the cost of $3 million with illegal funds.
He cited the late Jerry John Rawlings as the source of the information.
“Our own good friend, Felix Kwakye-Ofosu, Rawlings said he was able to buy 2 houses, one costing $1.5m. I am quoting a source that Rawlings said that. I have the video. Felix got those monies illegally,” he said.
Displeased by the comment, Mr Sam George asked Dr Nyarko to provide evidence to his claim. With the absence of evidence, he suggested that Felix Kwakye-Ofosu takes legal action against the Kwadaso MP.
Do you have any proof? I think Felix should begin to sue people like you. You should stop peddling falsehood. Do you know where Felix lives?
Did you hear Rawlings say that? Felix did not pay such monies. Stop that,” Mr George noted.
With regards to the Cecilia Dapaah looted cash case, Dr Nyarko noted that it is unwise for politicians in the opposition NDC to create the idea that politicians with money acquired them illegally. According to him, it may haunt them in the future.
“The political class, we have to be mindful. We don’t have to create the impression that any politician who has some form of money, that money was gotten through political maneuvering,” he advocated.
In response, the Ningo-Prampram MP said: “The politicians in your party who are giving politicians a bad name.”
Rawlings VS Kwakye Ofosu
The late J.J. Rawlings, 2018’s June 4th celebration, alleged that a member of the erstwhile Mahama administration, bought two mansions worth 3 million US Dollars.
Without mentioning Kwakye Ofosu’s name, the former president said the minister was a ‘small little character’ who served as a deputy minister.
Many political watchers suspected it was the former deputy communications minister the ex-president was referring to.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu, descended heavily on former President Jerry John Rawlings.
“…You cannot say you are an elderly person and yet when you are informed that someone has done something wrong, you won’t even investigate the matter thoroughly before commenting openly, accusing the person wrongly just like that.
“Because he is an elderly person whose words are taken as the gospel truth, that is the reason why he should have been mindful of his utterances in order not to malign someone on the basis of allegation without proof and that is why Ghanaians ought to be disappointed,” he stated.
Cecilia Dapaah
Former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour, are reported to have been robbed by two of their house helps in their home in Abelemkpe, Accra.
The two, 18-year-old Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei are said to have undertaken their operation between July and October 2022.
At an Accra Circuit Court, Patience and Sarah are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing, which include amounts of US$1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghana Cedis.
Clothes valued at GH¢95,000, handbags, perfumes, and jewelry worth US$95,000 were reportedly stolen as well.
Three other individuals have also been charged in connection with the theft being investigated.
It appears civilians are not the only people who have been at the mercy of National Security Operatives as some security officers have had their share of brutalities meted out by these men of whom most are believed to be ‘party boys.’
Member of Parliament of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George, has recounted a chilling incident of assault meted out against a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer who was later identified as WO1 Mashud Salia.
“Under this government, we have seen National Security boys, party apparatchik, pull a warrant officer out of his vehicle, handcuff him, and assault him, at Michelle camp.
He made the remarks during an interview on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV where he stated that this is a threat to the country’s security.
Background
In November 2020, WO1 Mashud Salia was allegedly physically assaulted and handcuffed whilst in uniform over his inability to give way to a convoy of four vehicles.
The event, according to The Chronicle newspaper, happened on the Tema-Akosombo highway at the Ashaiman Tulaku section.
The shocking incident which occurred on Wednesday, November 25 is said to have attracted a large crowd of commuters and motorists alike, who watched in disbelief as the soldier who is said to be a Physical Training Instructor (PTI) at the nearby First Battalion of Infantry was receiving slaps from the alleged National Security Operatives.
Narrating what occasioned the unfortunate incident, the Chronicle wrote “on Wednesday, November 25 at about 08:30hrs, when traffic was heavy on the stretch, the soldier, Warrant Officer Class One ( W O 1) Mashud Salia, was driving his saloon car towards Michel Camp.
Upon negotiating the Ashaiman roundabout, a siren-blowing convoy of four high speeding vehicles approached from his rear, forcing their way through the middle of the tight traffic.”
The Chronicle further explained that according to eyewitnesses, “the WO attempted parking off the road to give way to the convoy, but the road was so narrow that his very life and that of other motorists was at stake, so he continued in the lane. Suddenly, the lead vehicle blocked that of the soldier, and armed men alighted from the other vehicles and started to slap him behind the steering wheel and afterwards pulled him out.”
The armed men who allegedly assaulted the soldier were described as wearing brown khakis and armed. They later handcuffed the soldier and shoved him into one of their vehicles and drove to Michel Camp and handed him over to the authorities there.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, refuses to budge in the face of calls from the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) for an immediate and unconditional apology and a retraction of his remarks.
He asserts that he has no intention of offering an apology or retracting any of his statements regarding the real estate industry.
During a broadcast on ‘Joy NewsFile Joy FM and Joy TV’ on Saturday, July 22, 2023, the MP reportedly referred to the real estate business in Ghana as an enterprise involved in ‘money laundering’.
In response to GREDA’s reaction, the Ningo-Prampram MP expressed his disappointment and accused the association of adopting an ostrich-like approach by denying the existence of money laundering in Ghana’s real estate sector.
“Let me start by stating that I have absolutely no intention to render an apology, qualified or not, nor make any retraction. As a public office holder, I am minded first by my fidelity to the truth, my conscience and the general well-being of the Ghanaian people. These considerations in my opinion supersede the whims of any individual or specific grouping.
“It is shocking that an association like GREDA would seek to play the ostrich and display publicly the malaise that bedevils our beautiful Nation – hypocrisy! How GREDA can boldly seek to make them that they are unaware of the fact that money laundering is happening in the real estate sector of our country is shocking and disappointing. The phenomenon is not peculiar to Ghana alone and is serious jurisdictions, legitimate industry players work with State authorities to rid their sector of these criminals. Unfortunately, here in Ghana, we are seeing GREDA seek to silence any voice that points out this criminality,” part of the MP’s statement read.
Sam George claims that his comments were not intended to single out all GREDA members but rather to address the issue of money laundering in the industry.
He mentioned messages of encouragement from reputable real estate developers who applauded him for speaking out on a matter that threatens the credibility of the industry.
“Let me state for the records that I have received messages from hardworking and credible real estate developers who are engaged in honest enterprise commending me for speaking out on an issue that threatens the viability of the sector. The attempt by the Executive Council to paint a picture that all GREDA members are saints and above reproach is one that would leave any discerning minds in stitches,” he continued.
The MP went on to say that many Ghanaians share his views on the real estate and that GREDA should use all legal means at their disposal to address those views rather than turning their legal efforts against him.
Sam George also gave the association assurances that his office is open to working with them to combat dishonest players in the industry who take part in unlawful activity.
“I am fortified that my position is one that the majority of Ghanaians agree with and believe in. I encourage GREDA to exercise any legal options available to your good selves as you have indicated in your statement. It may open a vista for a wider investigation into a sector that we may not have looked at closely.
“My office remains available to work with GREDA whenever it is prepared to deal with unscrupulous elements who use the sector to perpetrate illegalities,” the MP stated.
The Executive Council of the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) has expressed its dissatisfaction with recent remarks made by the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampam, Sam Nartey George, regarding Ghana’s real estate sector.
According to GREDA, the lawmaker made an error in his statements when he characterized the entire real estate business in Ghana as a haven for individuals to launder money acquired through illicit means.
In a statement issued by GREDA and seen by GhanaWeb Business, they have requested that the Ningo Prampram MP issue an immediate and unqualified apology, as well as a retraction of his statement from the July 22nd edition of Joy News’ File within 7 days.
“It is therefore an affront to our genuine hardworking members for this Honorable MP to make such an unguarded and irresponsible utterance without offering any proof whatsoever.
We demand an immediate unqualified apology and retraction of this unfortunate statement within 7 days of this press statement,” the statement read in part.
GREDA continued, “We however, wish to serve him notice and notice is hereby served that we reserve our right to seek legalredress should he not retract his unfortunate comments and apologize accordingly.”
The Association, however, reminded the lawmaker that as part of efforts to ensure the real estate sector is sanitized, it collaborates with the Economic Crime and Intelligence Office (EOCO) and Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) and other parallel state agencies to implement of the Anti-Money Laundering Law, AML (Act 749) as amended.
“Members of our Association are hardworking Ghanaians who every day have to battle with the economic conditions in the country as every other business sector is doing,” GREDA emphasized.
Read the full statement from GREDA below:
Background
On the July 22nd edition of the Joy News’ File, Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampam, Sam Nartey George raised concerns over the legitimacy of some real estate businesses operating in the country.
According to him, the real estate sector has become a haven for individuals to launder money acquired through illicit means and ways.
He suggested that individuals engaging in these money laundering schemes in the real estate sector often exchange these properties as part of a ploy to effectively ‘clean’ illicit funds.
“Real estate business in Ghana is money laundering. If our authorities want to deal with it, they will deal with it,” Sam George lamented.
He explained that “the cost of real estate in Ghana is not justifiable by any stretch. You keep seeing all these new high-rise buildings going up and they are selling them for half a million, a million dollars and they keep buying and buying amongst themselves.”
“…I have dirty money to clean, I put up a real estate property, you have dirty money you come and buy the property from me and then automatically your money becomes clean, then tomorrow you also start building your own then I come back and buy and we are just cleaning the money,” Sam George added.
The Ningo Prampram MP further asserted that the funds generated from such illegal activities are subsequently used to finance political campaigns and among others.
His remarks were on the back of a recent newspaper report from The Chronicle detailing how a former Minster of Sanitation, Cecilia Abena Dapaah had been keeping huge sums of foreign currency in her home which was subsequently stolen by her two maids.
Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has expressed deep concerns about the legitimacy of certain real estate businesses operating in the country.
The lawmaker raised alarm over how the real estate sector has turned into a safe haven for individuals to launder money obtained through illicit means and activities.
During an appearance on the July 22nd edition of Joy News’ File, Sam George lamented the inflated pricing of real estate properties and high-rise buildings, which are often sold at exorbitant prices.
He suggested that those involved in money laundering schemes within the real estate sector frequently use these properties as a means to effectively ‘clean’ illicit funds by exchanging ownership among themselves.
“Real estate business in Ghana is money laundering. If our authorities want to deal with it, they will deal with it,” Sam George lamented.
He explained that “the cost of real estate in Ghana is not justifiable by any stretch. You keep seeing all these new high-rise buildings going up and they are selling them for half a million, a million dollars and they keep buying and buying amongst themselves.”
“…I have dirty money to clean, I put up a real estate property, you have dirty money you come and buy the property from me and then automatically your money becomes clean, then tomorrow you also start building your own then I come back and buy and we are just cleaning the money,” Sam George added.
The Ningo Prampram MP went on to say that the money made from these unlawful acts is then utilized to support political campaigns and other things.
His comments follow a recent newspaper article from The Chronicle that described how Cecilia Abena Dapaah, a former minister of sanitation, kept enormous amounts of foreign currency in her residence, which were later taken by her two maids.
Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George, has made allegations against the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), claiming that they are orchestrating an amendment to the charge sheet in the case involving the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah.
The minister reported that over a million dollars and 300,000 Euros, as well as millions of cedis were stolen from her residence at Akpelempke.
According to Sam George, an unidentified NPP MP hinted at the party’s intention to engage in a public relations strategy by altering the charge sheet to lower the amounts mentioned in the case.
Speaking on on Newsfile on Joy FM on Saturday, July 22, the legislator said, “yesterday [Friday], in parliament, after this matter broke, a senior member of government and a senior MVP person made it clear to us that they were going to engage in a PR spin and get the charge sheet amended.
“And the attempt to amend it is because of the gravity of the theft; to try and drop down the numbers. So Ghanaians should watch out for that. I mean, you will soon see a new charge sheet that has dropped a number of zeros out of the figures in question,” he said.
According to the prosecution in the case, the thefts occurred between July and October 2022.
The Chronicle newspaper reports that two house helps – Patience Botwe, 18, and Sarah Agyei, 30 – are currently facing one count of conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing, involving amounts of US$1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghana Cedis.
Madam Dapaah and her husband reported the theft to the police in June this year, after Mr Daniel Osei Kuffour [husband], caught one of the accused [Patience Botwe] red-handed in their room with a duplicate key, leading to her arrest.
But hours after the news broke out, the Minister issued a statement explaining that the amounts of money purported to have been stolen by the media were inconsistent with the original complaint she filed.
According to Sam Nartey George, he finds it bizarre that Madam Dapaah is now claiming there have been inconsistencies in the charge sheet only after the news came to light.
Ningo-Prampram legislator, Sam Nartey George has alleged that the real estate industry in Ghana is a hoax used to cover up money laundering activities happening in the country.
The Anti-Money Laundering Act defines money laundering as engaging in any transaction that involves proceeds of a crime, with the intent to conceal the illegal origin of such funds or to help a person involved in criminal conduct to evade legal consequences.
The MP made the allegations while contributing a conversation hovering around the millions of dollars and cedis looted from the home of the Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, July 22.
He based his allegation on the exorbitant prices of houses built by real estate companies. According to Mr Nartey George, he finds it outrageous that a house is sold for half a million dollars in Ghana.
“The real estate business in Ghana is money laundering. The cost of real estate in Ghana is not justifiable by any stretch.
You keep seeing all these new high-rise buildings going up and they are selling them for half a million dollars and they keep buying among themselves,” he said.
Explaining how alleged money laundering works in the real estate business, he stated that several parties in the industry engage in buying and selling in order to convert their “dirty money” into “clean money.”
“So I have dirty money to clean, I put up a real estate property. You also have dirty money, you come and buy the property from me then automatically, your money becomes clean. Then tomorrow you also start building your own then I come back and buy and we are just cleaning the money,” he stated.
According to the Ningo-Prampram MP, much has not been done to halt such activities due to a decision by authorities allow such actions continue.
“If our authorities want to deal with it, they will deal with it,” he noted.
The key legislation governing money laundering in Ghana is the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2008 (Act 749). Additionally, the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, 2008 (Act 768) and the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 1990 (PNDCL 236) are also relevant in the fight against money laundering.
Per the Anti-Money Laundering Act, a person commits an offence of money laundering if the person knows or ought to have known that property is or forms part of the proceeds of unlawful activity and the person: (a) converts, conceals, disguises or transfers the property, (b) conceals or disguises the unlawful origin of the property, or (c) acquires, uses or takes possession of the property.
A person found culpable and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than five thousand penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not less than twelve months and not more than ten years or to both.
Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has sought to explain the genesis of the unending corrupt practices hovering around politicians in the country.
Per his submission on JoyNews’ Newsfile monitored by The Independent Ghana on July 22, the corrupt practices politicians engage in begins with businessmen with corrupt mindset.
According to him, politicians seek the assistance of businessmen to fund their campaigns due to the cost involved.
And during this period, in his words, “You have corrupt businessmen and corrupt business interest that will corrupt politicians – (to) fund them.”
Providing the financial support to the politician, he said is not the end goal, as the money has to be provided to electorates to get politicians into office.
For him, fighting corruption seems like an impossible task as the aforementioned is “an endless cycle”.
“I’ve said this before. We have a supposed fight against corruption. The electorates feel the electoral cycle is the only time where they can actually get a share of the national cake.Because the political class have created a certain gulf between ourselves and the populace. You have corrupt business men and corrupt business interest that will corrupt politicians – fund them. But that money does not necessarily sit with politicians. It has to trickle down for you to then get office. It is an endless cycle,” he said.
Mr Nartey George cited the just-ended by-election in Assin North to exemplify the truth on the ground.
During the Assin North by-election, viral videos on social media showed members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) engaging in vote-buying although the party has dismissed this claim.
Already, Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement at the Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) Dr. Pumpuni Asante in an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, warned that due to the enormous resources pumped into campaigns, the development of the country is not the priority of politicians.
He noted that the priority of many elected leaders is to recoup their expenses when they get into power.
“We actually risk the democracy that we have established. And we are 30 years into the Fourth Republic and we are putting it at risk. Because increasingly, the people who come into government because they need to recoup their investment, and of course some of them are greedy and they want to amass all the wealth, we don’t get the development and dividends that we are supposed to get.
“And people are beginning to ask themselves ‘why should we continue doing this?’ So we are running out of time and we need to correct these problems,” he said.
According to research, it is estimated that a candidate in a parliamentary contest in Ghana spends around GH₵350,000 ($60,000) on their campaign.
At the presidential level, a candidate is required to spend significantly more, with figures ranging from GH₵5 million ($867,000) to GH₵50 million ($8.67 million) or even more.
These costs are primarily for advertising, transportation, and paying party agents and supporters.
Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, has emphatically stated that the parliamentary minority remains steadfast in their commitment to boycott all parliamentary activities.
The MP explained that until Akufo-Addo and his government halt the persecution of the minority caucus, NDC MPs will continue to be absent on the days any of their members has to go to court.
Sam Nartey George speaking on Eyewitness News on Citi FM further added that, the NDC does not care about losing parliamentary seats as a result of their absence from the House.
“Akufo-Addo will go down in the history of this country as the worst president and most undemocratic person. And we must resist him at every turn if it means losing 137 seats in Parliament. They should declare the 137 seats vacant and let’s have a by-election. After all, that will bring a lot of development to our 137 constituencies because that is their stalking,” Sam George said.
“The 137 of us have decided and are definite in our minds. We are not going to the chamber any day they take our colleagues to court and persecute them,” he added.
It would be recalled that the minority in parliament agreed to snub parliamentary proceedings whenever an NDC MP went to court. This was in solidarity with Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson who is standing trial for forgery and perjury.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, has stated that the Minority caucus remains unconcerned about losing their parliamentary seats due to their ongoing boycott of parliamentary activities.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, ruled that the Minority’s continuous boycott, carried out without an official notification and approval, violates the house’s standing orders, potentially leading to the loss of their seats.
In an interview on Eyewitness News, Sam George affirms that the Minority will persist in their efforts to halt the persecution of its members.
“Akufo-Addo will go down in the history of this country as the worst president and most undemocratic person. And we must resist him at every turn if it means losing 137 seats in Parliament. They should declare the 137 seats vacant and let’s have a by-election. After all that will bring a lot of development to our 137 constituencies because that is their stalking.”
“The 137 of us have decided and are definite in our minds. We are not going to the chamber any day they take our colleagues to court and persecute them,” he indicated.
Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, dismisses Minority’s credibility.
“I want to tell the Ghanaian people that they shouldn’t take the Minority seriously at all unless they come to convince us why they will boycott the chamber. Today it was most embarrassing, all the private business about 99.9% of all the private businesses were advertised in their names. But I think that they should show maturity in these matters,” he said.
One of the supporters of the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, Sam Nartey George, has provided clarification regarding his characterization of homosexuality as a form of mental disorder, emphasizing that it is based on scientific evidence supporting its classification as such.
The Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, explained that the American Psychologist Association identified homosexuality as a mental disorder.
Sam George further explained that homosexuality as a mental disorder was only taken out of the Manual of Psychiatric Conditions in 1974 through persuasion and not because it was scientifically wrong.
“I regard it (homosexuality) an insanity and for your information, it was considered by the American Psychologist Association as a mental disorder until 1974. It was in I974 that homosexuality was taken out of the manual, the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) which is the manual for psychiatric conditions. It was only in 1974 that homosexuality was taken out and it wasn’t on the basis of science. It was taken out on the basis of lobbying so the Science that determined that it was a mental condition has not been refuted.
“So, if I call it insanity, it is scientifically proven because the only reason why the American Psychologist Association took it off the manual was not on the basis of science . It being on the basis of science was that it was a mental condition like schizophrenia but in 1974, they took out of that manual on the basis of lobbying and social pressure not on the basis of science. I’m speaking to the science and so, when I call it insanity, it’s not derogatory; I’m speaking facts,” Sam George said on Legal Agenda with Matilda Boateng Nartey on GhanaWeb TV.
Eight MPs are sponsoring the Promotion of Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Cultural Values. These individuals include; Sam Nartey George (MP, Ningo Prampram), Emmanuel Bedzrah (MP, Ho West) Della Adjoa Sowah (MP, Kpando), John Ntim Fordjour (MP, Assin South) – the sole NPP MP sponsoring the Bill.
The remaining sponsors are Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini (MP, Tamale North), Helen Adjoa Ntoso (MP, Krachi West), Rita Naa Odoley Sowah (MP, La Dadekotopon) and Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor (MP, South Dayi).
A proponent of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill in parliament, Sam Nartey George, has written to the chief justices of the country pleading with them to uphold the rule of law in the best interests of the populace rather than their own personal interests.
He explained that they need to know this because they are representing the interests of the broader public by holding these positions.
Sam George, who represents the Ningo-Prampram constituency in parliament, was discussing the question, “Is Sexual Preference A Human Rights Issue?” on GhanaWeb TV’s Legal Agenda.
The first thing these judges should understand is that they are there for the public, not for themselves, he informed the media.
Adding that the justices had to take public policy into consideration.
“This is a respectful message to the judges in the Supreme Court and in the High Court: they should bear in mind that they sit there and dispense justice for and on behalf of the people of Ghana, not on their own behalf and they must be mindful of public policy,” he stated.
Sam Nartey George added that the judges of Ghana’s highest courts had to take the general uproar into consideration.
He continued by saying that they should be conscious that they have little confidence in the public’s judgment when making decisions about important topics, such as those involving the anti-gay measure currently before parliament.
“The judges would not want to see a public outcry against them. And again, don’t forget that our judiciary is one element of our governance system that people lack a lot of trust and faith in because the judiciary has not necessarily comported itself in the best of manner,” he said.
The anti-gay bill, known as the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, is being spearheaded by 8 Members of Parliament from both sides of the House.
Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has revealed that out of the three New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs who initially expressed support for the Anti-LGBTQ+ bill, only one remained committed to the drafting of the bill.
Speaking in an interview on Neat FM on Thursday, July 6, 2023, Sam George said that the NPP MP who stayed loyal to the course was the MP for Assin South and Deputy Minister for Education, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour.
According to him, the other NPP MPs who were initially sponsoring the bill failed to attend meetings to draft the bill and even missed the final presentation of the bill to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, because of the pressures they were under.
The MP made these remarks while reacting to a statement by Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, the MP for Asante Akim, who was part of the NPP MPs initially sponsoring the anti-LGBTQI bill, that he was not present for the presentation of the bill because he was busy.
“He had sixteen meetings to put together the bill with the coalition. Ask him (Andy Appiah) Kubi whether he attended any of these meetings. Every time, they have an excuse to give, even on the day of the presentation they want to give an excuse.
“If today all of them are now on board, they are welcome. But I would continue to celebrate Honourable Ntim Fordjour because on that day (the day of the presentation of the bill) we knew the pressure that he came under but he said he was a priest and he believed it was the right thing to do,” Sam George said.
He insisted that Andy Appiah and all the other sponsors of the bill were aware of the day it was being presented but he failed to show up.
The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021, popularly known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, was sponsored by Sam George (NDC MP), Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah (NDC MP), Della Adjoa Sowah (NDC MP), Rev Ntim Fordjour (NPP MP), Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini (NDC MP), Rita Naa Odoley Ntso (NDC MP) and Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor (NDC MP).
The names of the two other NPP MPs who were initially supporting the bill did not appear on the final report of the bill by the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the House.
Parliament on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, adopted a motion to approve the bill.
Ningo Prampram MP, Sam George, has taken to taunting the New Patriotic Party (NPP) following their defeat in the fiercely contested Assin North by-election.
With biting remarks and relentless jibes, the legislator persistently ’s taunts serve as a reminder of the NPP’s failure to secure victory in Assin North, leaving the party on the receiving end of his unabated ridicule.
In response to a TikTok video compilation created by @zeinabalhassan, featuring sorrowful reactions of prominent members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) following their defeat in the Assin North by-election, the lawmaker expressed the view that NPP members should be offered comfort and sympathy as a means to recover from the unexpected loss.
“Take a moment and sympathise with an NPP person by you,” Sam George tweeted with laughing emojis.
The Assin North by-election ended on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, with the NDC candidate, James Gyakye Quayson, garnering a total of 17,245 votes, representing 57.56% of the total votes cast.
Despite a pending trial in which the State is charging James Gyakye Quayson with forgery and perjury, the residents of Assin North massively voted for the then-removed MP to represent them in parliament.
The MP-elect for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson is expected to be sworn in by Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin on Tuesday, July 4, 2023.
Ningo Prampram MP, Sam George, has been captured on video engaging in a banter with some soldiers over the assault launched on him by some security personnel during the Ayawaso West Wuoguon by-election.
In the video sighted by The Independent Ghana, the legislator is seen and heard questioning the presence of military escorts at an election ground during the Assin North by-election held on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, and telling them not to repeat the 2019 incident.
“It’s only the President and the Vice President and of late, the Attorney General who use the military. Even the speaker was denied military service so who else will use the military? Or the Minister of Defense? Are you with the Defense Ministry?
“Chief, we don’t want any basabasa [to wit we don’t want any chaos]. We don’t want any Ayawaso West Wuoguon. You see, today I’m not wearing any tactica I’m wearing civilian,” he said and appealed to the military men not to facilitate any chaos.
The outspoken NDC MP was assaulted by some security personnel believed to be members of the SWAT team of the Ghana Police Service at the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, in January 2019 during a by-election to elect a replacement for the then deceased MP for the area, Emmanuel Kwabena Kyeremateng Agyarko who died on November 21, 2018.
Mr. Sam George was seen in a video shouting at the security personnel in a parked vehicle, claiming they wanted to kill a man in his house.
It was during the exchange that one of the security men stepped out of the parked pick-up truck of security personnel to slap the MP.
He was then punched by another person in uniform suspected to be part of the security team.
The video which went viral on social media indicated that the attack on the MP resulted in fisticuffs between the police and supporters of the NDC.
There was also a shooting incident which resulted in the withdrawal of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), from partaking in the by-election.
The party also withdrew its polling agents and observers from the area after consulting with its parliamentary candidate.
Some National Security Operatives were alleged to have fired shots at a polling centre at La Bawaleshie, injuring about six persons believed to be NDC supporters.
A member of the Perez Chapel International, Samuel Nartey George, is absolutely convinced that no harm will come against Archbishop Agyinasare or any Christian under the pavilion of God over the recent brouhaha involving Nogokpo traditional authorities.
He made the comments in reaction to a seeming caution by spokesperson of Nogopko, Nufialagah Mawufemor Kobla Nornyigbey, following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued by the Nogokpo authorities to the founder and leader of Perez Chapel International, Archbishop Agyinasare over a derogatory comment during the church’s Supernatural Empowerment Summit.
Speaking in an interview on GEROM TV with Maame Grace on Friday, June 16, 2023, Mr Nornyigbey said that the chiefs of Nogokpo would take action because the people of the Volta Region have been disrespected enough.
“All the options are on the table for us. I mean all the options,” Nornyigbey said when asked whether the chiefs of Nogokpo are going to invoke their deity.
“It is about time others must learn to respect we Ewes. I don’t want to be tribalistic but Agyinasare cannot go to the Ashanti land or any Akan community and make that statement,” he said.
In response during an interview with JoyNews on Thursday, the Ningo-Prampram legislator noted that as he remains a firm believer in the efficacy and power in the blood of Jesus Christ “no power, no weapon fashioned against us will prosper”.
“He, who manifests in three beings – as Father, Son and Holy Spirit is ultimate and all powers, tongues will bow before him. And so long as we call on his name, his name is a strong tower the righteous will run into and they will be safe,” he added.
He also asserted that the words of Archbishop Agyinasare’s have been misconstrued as they have been taken out of context.
“I urge people to know every communication is in a context. If you take it our of context, you can spin it in a thousand ways. People have seen a video of about 3 minutes and drawn their conclusion. That whole sequence in the sermon was about 15 minutes,” he said.
In his view, persons who run riot just on limited information appear to be “shallow”.
Background
On June 2, the Nogokpo traditional authorities issued a 14-day ultimatum to Archbishop Agyinare after he referred to Nogokpo as the “headquarters of demons” in the Volta Region.
This came after Archbishop Agyinasare clarified that he did not intend to disrespect any specific groups or communities, expressing regret over any misrepresentation or misinformation that followed.
As of June 16, when the deadline elapsed, the archbishop had not presented himself to the Nogokpo traditional authority.
Since then, Archbishop Agyinasare has not directly comment over the matter. However, his recent sermon has been interpreted as a response.
Archbishop Charles Agyinasare, last Sunday entreated Christians to know who they are and let go of worries about being hurt by any oppressor.
According to him, anyone who accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and savior has a protective covering, thus is not affected by any attack.
“The blessing of Abraham, ‘I will make your name great so that you can be a blessing’. And take the verse three, it says, ‘and I will bless anybody who blesses you and curse anyone that curses you’.
“Once I become a Christian, you make a mistake if you curse me. What is a curse? A curse is an invocation of spiritual forces to do you harm. So, if God says anybody who curses you, he will curse. Then anybody who pours libations and mentions your name, invoking spiritual forces against you,” he said.
The Minority in Parliament has revealed the intentions of the National Democratic Congress to conduct another SIM re-registration exercise should it win the 2024 elections.
The parliamentary caucus of the NDC has expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the current government’s re-registration exercise, citing flaws in the sole document used for the process, the Ghana card.
According to Sam George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, the claim that the current government’s stance on the re-registration exercise is aimed at combating crime is false.
Speaking during a media briefing in Parliament on June 8, 2023, he argued that the Ghana card, which serves as the primary identification document for the re-registration, is fundamentally flawed. As a result, the NDC has the intention to undertake a proper re-registration of SIM cards in the future, eliminating the need for subscribers to queue at telecom offices.
“It is not true that they are using this to fight crime because the Ghana Card fundamentally is flawed. That is why we have served notice that the next NDC government will do a proper re-registration of SIM cards, which will not involve you having to go and queue in telecom offices,” citinewsroom.com quoted him as saying.
The current SIM re-registration exercise, which commenced on October 1, 2021, has led to the deactivation of approximately 9 million unregistered SIM cards by telecommunications firms in Ghana. The directive for the exercise came from the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Ministry of Communications, with the aim of enhancing regulatory compliance and combating potential security threats.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has provided an update on the status of the SIM re-registration exercise. She announced that Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are collaborating with the Bank of Ghana to facilitate the retrieval of funds for individuals who had their money locked in mobile money accounts due to deactivated SIM cards.
The lawmaker for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George has descended on a Nigerian gay pastor who attacked him over his claims on the LGBTQ+ issues in the country.
Rightify Ghana, a human rights organisation, in a long Twitter thread, wrote about the threats and dangers the proposed “Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill” before parliament will pose to the lives of members of the LGBTQ+ community.
The group referred to the lead sponsor of the bill, Sam George as a “liar” for claiming that members of the LGBTQ+ are asking for same-sex marriage in Ghana.
The British-Nigerian gay pastor, Reverend Jide Macaulay referred to Sam George as a failed politician and a national disgrace for allegedly peddling falsehood against the queer community.
The founder and pastor for House of Rainbow CIC in a tweet wrote “Sam George lacks the basic intelligence in understanding human sexuality. He is a failed politician, a national disgrace, a threat to national security and he needed hatred to boost his career. His explanation makes no sense. LGBTQ people are not asking for marriage in Ghana, they are asking for protection from violence, the safety of life, the right to assemble, enjoyment of their lives and highest standard of healthcare.
“Queer Ghanaians are peace lovers.”
The lawmaker in a sharp rebuttal called the pastor a failed human being and asked him to pay attention to his HIV infection which he contracted through homosexuality.
“Look at this failed human being attempting to call me out? Go deal with your HIV infection, which is a result of your homosexuality. Like they say in your home country, Nigeria, you no reach! Off you go!” Sam George tweeted.
The LGBTQ+ Bill before Parliament is titled: “The Promotion of Proper Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021.” It is a Private Members’ Bill sponsored by a bipartisan group of lawmakers.
The eight MPs who sponsored the Bill are Sam Nartey George (MP, Ningo Prampram), Emmanuel Bedzrah (MP, Ho West) Della Adjoa Sowah (MP, Kpando), John Ntim Fordjour (MP, Assin South) – the sole NPP MP sponsoring the Bill.
The remaining sponsors are Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini (MP, Tamale North), Helen Adjoa Ntoso (MP, Krachi West), Rita Naa Odoley Sowah (MP, La Dadekotopon) and Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor (MP, South Dayi).
Ningo-Prampram MP, Samuel Nartey George, the lead advocate for the passage of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021, has expressed that his commitment to this cause has come at a significant personal cost, even prior to the bill becoming law or otherwise.
Mr Nartey George is sponsoring the Private Members’ Bill alongside seven other MPs.
During an interview on Eko Sii Sen on Asempa FM on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, the outspoken legislator, who has been re-elected to represent the opposition National Democratic Congress in his constituency in the 2024 election, revealed that he has been unjustly included in a money laundering list due to his advocacy.
He shared that this situation has posed challenges for him in conducting financial transactions whenever he travels outside the country.
Even though he was given a reason for the blacklisting, the MP considers it as merely a cover-up, insisting that the blacklisting and some other experiences he’s gone through in some countries are clearly as a result of his anti-LGBTQ campaign.
“I have been put on a money laundering list; I can't even change $1 anywhere in the world" – Sam George
— The Independent Ghana (@independent_gh) May 19, 2023
“I went to do a programme in LSE [London School of Economics] for example, and I needed a student account. The University gave me a letter, but the bank refused to open an account for me. As we speak, I can’t change even one dollar anywhere in the world. They’ve put me on a money laundering list. They claim I am laundering money for evangelical conservatives in the US.
“I can’t change money anywhere, I have done some travels in the UK and Dubai. You know over there, when you want to exchange the money they’ll swipe your passport, so once they do that the countenance of the cashier changes when my name appears, then they hand the passport back to you and say we can’t change the money for you, sorry.
When the host, Philip Osei Bonsu [A.k.a OB] asked him how he carries out financial transactions when he travels out of the country, the MP said, “You have to find the currency of the country you are travelling to, or you have to find a Ghanaian and beg him or her to change the money for you or you use your bank card. I can’t travel with money” the MP reiterated.
The MP also spoke about how he’s been unfairly handled when he travels outside despite being a diplomatic passport holder since the LGBTQ advocacy started.
“Even when I travel with my diplomatic passport, you get pulled out of the line, you think that maybe they want to give you a special service because you’re carrying a diplomatic passport, they put you in a room for two hours; they just leave you sitting there and embarrass you…because you’ve gotten off a plane with Ghanaians and people see security people come and surround you and walk you into a room, search your bags and all of that just to harass you” he claimed.
Sam George, who spoke painfully about the sacrifices, losses and experiences he and his colleagues have endured for pursuing the bill, said “I will write a book after, and I will chronicle everything especially when we are done. And it’s not just me. I can make reference to some because they are already published. Suhuyini [NDC MP for Tamale North] was rejected for a visa to Holland and the reason for rejection was that he lacked social ties to Ghana.
“A sitting Member of Parliament lacks social ties? On that particular matter, I had to tweet at the Dutch Ambassador and tell him that I was also going to make a list of all Dutch businesses in Ghana and call for a boycott of all Dutch businesses. Then he came back and made for me what was the silliest excuse ever. That it was an administrative error.
“Then I sent back a tweet to him and said that even shows how poor he is at being an ambassador. If an application of a diplomatic passport holder coming from the office of the Speaker of Parliament for an official trip can be subject to an administrative error, what is happening to several other ordinary Ghanaians who are paying so much and you’re rejecting their visas? Are we to assume that there’s so much administrative error there? The next day they granted him [Alhassan Suhuyini] the visa” the MP narrated.
Despite these issues, the MP says he’s not perturbed in seeing the bill passed into law.
“They don’t know me well. Those things give me the hunger to pass this bill. It is those things that spur me on because the more you try to break me, the harder I will come at you. Like we say in our faith, I have put my hands on the plough, there’s no turning back. I have crossed the Rubicon, I have bent that bridge, and I can’t go back”, he stated emphatically.
About the Bill
The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021, will see culprits face a jail term of up to ten years depending on the crime, if passed in its current state.
Portions of the Bill state that individuals of the same sex who engage in sexual intercourse are; “liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than seven hundred and fifty penalty units and not more than five thousand penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment of not less than three years and not more than five years or both.”
The Bill further suggests that persons who engage in activities that “promote, support, express sympathy for or call for a change of public opinion towards an act prohibited under the Bill,” are liable on summary conviction to a term of imprisonment of not less than five years or not more than ten years.
The other Members of Parliament sponsoring the bill alongside Sam George, are Emmanuel Bedzrah (MP, Ho West) Della Adjoa Sowah (MP, Kpando), John Ntim Fordjour (MP, Assin South), Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini (MP, Tamale North), Helen Adjoa Ntoso (MP, Krachi West), Rita Naa Odoley Sowah (MP, La Dadekotopon) and Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor (MP, South Dayi).
Sam George, in defense of the bill, has stated repeatedly that homosexuality is not a fundamental human right but a human preference which is in breach of the 1992 Constitution.
Three parliamentary candidates from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), have been criticised by the leadership of the party for voicing their grievances about the just ended NDC primaries through the media instead of using internal structures.
The three newly elected parliamentary candidates comprising Sam George of Ningo Prampram, Muntaka Mubarak of Asawase, and Felix Kwakye Ofosu of the Abura Asebu-Kwamankese constituency in the Eastern Region, have all granted interviews to Joy News accusing some national executives of interfering in the just ended primaries instead of being neutral referees.
The three have thus called for sanctions against such national executives to instil discipline at the national level that can trickle down to all members.
The former Deputy Information Minister, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu said these actions could bring divisions in the party ahead of the major election in 2024. He says aspirants who lost the bid to represent their constituencies would feel slighted and would not lend themselves to the development of the party going forward.
But speaking on Top Story on Joy FM, the Deputy General Secretary, Mustapha Gbande, said his three senior colleagues should have used the party structures instead of going to the media.
“I also want to think that my senior colleagues who are complaining, understand that grievances will not be picked from the media, and so we have an internal mechanism on how grievances are channelled and how they get addressed.
“This is not to say that they don’t have grievances, I want to also encourage that at this time, party members will refrain from comments and actions that will disintegrate the unity of the party particularly now that we are done with the election, and also particularly that it is coming from people who have been elected or people have won” he noted.
He said if the party were to discipline everyone as they’re demanding, that process would start with them for sidestepping laid-down channels to have their grievances heard.
“Generally, there’s indiscipline everywhere and the leadership that we have is bold and positioned enough to confront indiscipline. Going to report internal grievances in the media is just as bad as taking the party to court or betraying the party.
“And so members who are aggrieved by decisions and in the spirit of discipline must understand that those grievances ought to be channelled through internal processes. I have heard them say that leadership must hear everyone out and discipline people, if I am supposed to discipline anybody, I will first of all discipline an elected member who will run to the media to further deepen cracks.”
He said at this point, the party and its flagbearer are more committed to bringing everyone on board particularly those who lost the election.
“I think that we are done with the election, and generally, it’s been a very good election. Do people have an interest? Yes. Have there been issues? Yes. Our focus is to look at the larger interest. These complaints are coming from people who have survived the election. I think that is not a big issue. The bigger issue is the ones who have lost it. And so the effort of the National Executive Committee is to address the concerns of elected members and how to bring up those who have lost the election so that we can move together as a family.”
“They should not be the ones to run to the media complaining about how unfairly they’ve been treated. They’ve won the elections, they’ve survived the conspiracy theory, they’ve survived the vaccine, they’ve survived the ganging, what is left and what is more important is for us to push them to achieve their aim, and their aim is to win the election.
He said the national executives are more than capable to invoke their powers to bring sanity to the party, explaining that, “if you don’t take care, by the time you invoke such powers you would have sacked everybody, and that’s why we encourage people to use internal mechanisms where we tolerate each other and allow our differences not to undermine the collective interest of the party.”
According to him, the National Executive Committee is positioned to reconcile the party alongside the flagbearer to ensure a united front going into election 2024.
“We are neither for nor against the conflict because conflicts will always be part of politics, and when it comes, for us as referees and arbiters, our role is to give each of the persons who have complained a fair hearing” he added.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Professor Seidu Alidu, wants the NDC to fix these internal grievances before the elections. According to him, the fact that these experienced politicians opened up to the media about their concerns means that the problem might have existed for some time.
