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Speak Against LGBTQI In Ghana - CVM to IMANI Africa

• By EDMOND GYEBI
• February 26, 2021
• 0

The loud silence of IMANI Africa in particular and other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on the issues of Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer or Questioning (LGBTQI) stems from the fact that, these CSOs receive funding and support from organizations who are strongly behind the LGBTQI community.

     A statement signed by the Founder and President of the Concern Voters Movement (CVM) and copied to the media said: "any attempt to hold Government accountable on the LGBTQI by these CSOs would automatically affect their sources of funding."

     It said IMANI Africa led by Franklin Cudjoe was on top of issues when it comes to Governance except the issues of LGBTQI and that this is due to the fact that IMANI receives donor support from organizations such as Ford Foundation, OSIWA, UNICEF, OXFAM and DANIDA which have serious agendas for the promotion and protection of the rights of LGBTQI people.

     The statement said the Ford Foundation conducts grant-making that benefits the LGBTQI Community through its Gender and Racial Justice Programme.

     It said on November, 28, 2012, the Ford Foundation brought together LGBTQI Leaders and Allies, Artists, Journalists, Technologists, Policymakers and Founders to explore opportunities for the progresses of the LGBTQI Movement, how social justice can be inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity, and how to engage broad communities in securing rights for LGBTQI people.

     The statement said the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) is a grant-making and advocacy foundation that is part of the global Open Society Foundations Network who seek to combat discrimination by empowering LGBTQI Communities to promote and defend their human rights. 

     It said UNICEF continues to work to protect all children from discrimination including those who have been identified as LGBTQI, whiles OXFAM supports the rights of sexual minorities and focuses on eliminating discrimination against LGBTQI People and DANIDA through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark has a Special Action Plan to promote the Security, Wellbeing and Equal Opportunities for LGBTQI People. 

     The statement said, currently OSIWA was responsible for the funding of IMANIFESTO Project, DANIDA responsible for the funding of IMANI Tax and Governance project, UNICEF responsible for the funding of Manifesto Analysis on State of Inequality and Poverty Alleviation efforts in Ghana and OXFAM  responsible for the funding of Promoting Financial Accountability in the Public Sector (Ghana), all Projects of IMANI Africa. 

     It said in September 2018, Mr  Cudjoe, Founding President of IMANI Africa promised to raise funds to support the work of the Special Prosecutor through the Ford Foundation and OSIWA, and  these two organizations are well known promoters, defenders and activists of LGBTQI Communities. 

     The statement said IMANI Africa's Franklin Cudjoe, Kofi Bentil and Bright Simons CAN NEVER openly condemn, criticize, oppose and speak against the LGBTQI due to the association or collaboration between IMANI Africa and donors mentioned.

     It noted that similarly, majority of the prominent CSOs CAN NEVER do same against LGBTQI due to the fear that their sources of funding will be blocked. 

     Other donors who are sponsors and financiers of LGBTQI activities and support CSOs to promote their activities include the Overbrook Foundation, Sigrid Rausing Trust, Tides Foundation, Levi Strauss Foundation, Mama Cash, Dreilinden gGmbh, Hivos (NL) and Arcus Foundation. 

 


Source: David Lawson