The United States Embassy in Accra, Ghana, has flown a pride flag to show solidarity and support for the LGBTQI community in Ghana who have come under attack from various quarters recently, MyNewsGh.com can confirm. The Pride flag which was hoisted for more than 24 hours to mark Pride Month is part of activities and events to mark the past and present struggle for the human rights, dignity, and recognition of the LGBTQI+ community across the world and in Ghana, a country the US Ambassador said the LGBTQI community is having a tough time this year, 2021. In addition, the US Embassy held a close door reception for top Ghanaian advocates of LGBTQI where the Ambassador motivated them to continue their rights advocacy with the full assurance of US support, MyNewsGh.com noted The Ambassador was particularly impressed with the work of Shone Edem Lawrence for serving as a mouthpiece for the LGBTQI+ community in Ghana. US Embassy, Accra, Ghana Ambassador Stephanie Sullivan said this year, 2021 has been, in her words, “a challenging year” for the LGBTQI community in Ghana, making specific references to the LGBTQI proposed bill by Sam George and 7 other MPs without mentioning any MP’s name. The Top US Diplomat in Ghana also made reference to the arrest and detention of 21 homosexuals in Ho, in the Volta Region after the homosexuals were held without bail for several days. She referred to the Ho homosexuals as the “Ho 21”. “This year has been challenging for Ghana’s LGBTQI+ community.  From the shuttering of the LGBTQI+ Advocacy Center in Accra, the arrests of 22 friends gathered in the Eastern Region, talk of an anti-LGBTQI+ bill, and most recently, the arrest and lengthy pre-bail detention of 21 human rights defenders in Ho, the community is facing increased anti-LGBTQI+ rhetoric and actions.” MyNewsGh.com quotes Ambassador Sullivan. According to Ambassador Sullivan, anytime she meets Ghanaian leaders at all levels, she’s always urged them to respect their international obligations by committing to the rights of gays and homosexuals in Ghana and she will continue to do so unabated as ameliorating LGBTQI plight is now official US policy. In a statement over the flag hoisting, the embassy said the United States will pursue an end to violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. “Therefore, we aim to increase the visibility of, and address the challenges faced by, the community as we stand against injustice toward not only women and girls and religious minorities but also toward members of the LGBTQI+ community. “What began in the United States as a day in June to honour the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, New York, has become an international, month-long series of events to mark the past and present struggle for the human rights, dignity, and recognition of the LGBTQI+ community.” the statement added. 8 MPs push Anti-LGBTQI Bill This news comes after eight (8) members of Ghana’s Parliament jointly submitted a private bill to push for the criminalization of LGBTQI+ activities in Ghana with over 90% of MPs allegedly in support. The bill which is termed ‘Bill on the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values’, was presented to Speaker, Alban Bagbin on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, and who also supports it. In fact, the Speaker of Parliament has said the Bill will become law by end of this year. It is unclear yet, whether President Akufo-Addo will sign it, given the posture of his cousin Gabby Otchere-Darko who sources say speaks the mind of the President. Gabby said the Bill is a “hate Bill”. The proponents of the bill want the promotion, advocacy, funding, and acts of homosexuality or LGBTQI+ to be criminalized in the country. The Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram constituency, Sam George, who led the MPs to make the presentation, said it “is a landmark legislation that has taken the last 14 weeks working with a fantastic team of professionals to put together. It is in my humble opinion a world-class piece of legislation which should be reference material for other Parliaments seeking to pass similar legislation.” — MyNewsGh Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

On Tuesday, the United States government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Global Shea Alliance (GSA), launched the first-ever virtual Global Shea Alliance International Shea Conference.  Spearheaded by GSA, the three-day conference, themed ‘Building the Industry of the Next Decade’, celebrated GSA’s 10th anniversary and highlighted the importance of international partnerships toward achieving a more sustainable shea industry. US Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie S. Sullivan addressed hundreds of shea industry stakeholders and announced additional funding support to GSA’s Sustainable Shea Initiative (SSI) project across West Africa. “I’m happy to announce that USAID has just approved an extension to the GSA Sustainable Shea Initiative project.  This extension was based on increased private sector interest in the program and USAID’s strategic objective to support private investment, build capacity of shea producers, and promote increased regional and global trade.  We are thrilled to provide additional funding to match private funding to support the shea industry’s continued development for the next three years,” Ambassador Sullivan said. She also reaffirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to addressing climate change, and the need to preserve the shea ecosystem. “Indeed, President Biden announced on his first day in office that the United States would rejoin the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We have done so and have increased our climate ambitions in the runup to COP 26 in Glasgow in November,” Ambassador Sullivan noted. She commended the industry’s leading role in stopping shea parkland destruction through the Action for Shea Parklands – GSA’s initiative aimed at growing 10 million trees and preserving four million hectares of shea parklands throughout West Africa. Over the past decade, GSA has helped increase the demand for shea in food and cosmetics. GSA’s successful milestones include improved livelihoods of more than 400,000 West African women and their communities, and the construction of over 300 warehouses, that are now in the hands of women’s cooperatives throughout West Africa. The conference also addressed doing business in the COVID-19 era as well as new shea industry regulations. In a public-private partnership involving USAID, GSA, and the private sector, the Sustainable Shea Initiative has raised 100,000 shea tree seedlings and planted 8,000 shea trees in the region. Since 2011, SSI, a USAID-funded activity, has mobilized stakeholders globally to take action on pressing issues regarding shea sustainability, quality practices, and market expansion. The SSI is an $18 million, five-year program that promotes the sustainable expansion of the shea industry in Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Nigeria, and Togo, as well as increases the incomes of hundreds of thousands of rural women. In Ghana, 20,000 trees will be planted across five northern regions this year alone. 3news Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093