Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has spoken out against what he perceives as the West's undue influence in Africa, particularly in the realms of academia and intellect.

In an interview on News Central TV monitored by The Independent Ghana, Sam George emphasized the need for Africans to assert themselves and demand equal treatment from the West.

He highlighted the exceptional academic and intellectual capabilities of Ghanaians and Nigerians, stating that they surpass those of their Western counterparts.

Sam George pointed out that many of the best doctors in the United States medical system and economists on Wall Street are of Ghanaian and Nigerian descent, underscoring the talent and expertise present in Africa.

He said, "If we begin to assert ourselves, these guys will know that they have to deal with us on equal terms. They are not doing us a favour. We are doing them a favour.

"The best doctors in the United States Medical system are Ghanaians and Nigerians. The best economists on Wall Street are Ghanaians and Nigerians. They are not better than us. We sit in the same classroom and beat them everyday, academically, intellectually, we are better than them."

He noted that Africa's pathetic situation stems from its reliance on external aid and handouts, therefore advocating instead for increased intra-African trade and cooperation.

"And so our economies are what run the international banks and until we begin to assert ourselves and begin to trade more among ourselves. Ghana should begin to buy more rice from Nigeria and Nigeria should begin to buy more salf from Ghana. We don't need to go to the West for this," he said.

Furthermore, SAM George expressed his frustration with international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, arguing that they should not wield their influence to dictate terms to African countries.

He urged Africans to recognize their economic power and assert their rights in dealings with these institutions.

"But it is simply because we have not asserted our rights as Africans. Because we want to go for cheap hand made outs. I keep repeating that the IMF and World Bank are banks. Banks operate by giving loans and making profit off the interest of the loans. So they should not threaten us. A bank should not be threatening a customer that I won't give you a loan if you don't do what I want. If I don't come to you for a loan, you don't turn a profit," he noted.

His comments come after sanctions and warnings against some African countries over laws that criminalise homosexual activities.

Uganda enacted one of the world’s harshest anti-gay laws in May, which calls for the death penalty for certain same-sex acts.

Following this, the country faced sanctions from international communities. The U.S. imposed a first round of visa restrictions on Ugandan officials in response to the law in June 2023, and the World Bank halted new lending to the country in August 2023.

Now, Ghana's Parliament has passed the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill also known as the anti-LGBTQ bill after three years following its introduction.

The Anti-LGBTQ+ bill aims to criminalize LGBTQ+ activities in Ghana. It proposes strict penalties, including imprisonment, for individuals engaged in activities related to homosexuality and LGBTQ+ advocacy.

After deliberation, Parliament decided that the minimum custodial sentence has been set at three years, with a maximum of five years for promoters and sympathisers.

Additionally, individuals caught directly engaging in these activities will face a minimum sentence of six months, extendable to a maximum of three years.

In reaction, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has stated that it is monitoring events in Ghana following the passage of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill by Parliament.

In a statement issued by the IMF and reported by Bloomberg, the global lender emphasized that its internal policies prohibit discrimination based on personal characteristics, including gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation.

The IMF noted that, “Diversity and inclusion are values that the IMF embraces.”