 The Global South has always been an economic and political term used to identify developing, corrupt and ultra-ly underdeveloped countries around the world, like in Asia, Africa and Latin America. In the past, a country's candidacy for the Global South is voted on the marriage of its non-industrialised status. This status ensures that these countries are somehow still conservative politically, socially and economically. Conservatism in political terms means that their policies still tilt toward preserving traditional values and norms. One of these values is traditional marriage. Marriage, in this context, is still guided by religious texts and norms of peoples. Noms that sprouted from an eight-long tradition of scriptures, Bible or the Quran, that marriage involves two opposite genders, period. This absolutely has made championing the course of LGBT rights, his human right in the Global South, a taboo. And just as some governments spur herded by the United States make it an official policy to ensure LGBT ideologies are entrenched around the world, there are conservative elements in the so-called industrialised Global North who fund the resistance against LGBT people in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Moreover, the most focused defending force against modern-age pegnism and disregard for God's right is Islam. Islam is the largest religion in the Global South with an estimated 1.1 billion adherents. The majority of Muslims in the Global South are Sunni adults. There are also significant populations of Shia Muslims in certain countries. While the Christians are lenient with their core beliefs and approach towards the dangerous new culture, Muslims have been unsurprisingly consistent with Allah's teaching. That fear of falling out of favour with the Islamic community is the reason why this African president shocks the United States government of a renewed push to advance the course of LGBT rights in Africa. What is the meaning of this? What are the lessons we must take out from the drama? Can the world focus more on poverty, unemployment and terrorism in the Global South than just sexual rights? Assalamualaikum brothers and sisters, welcome to another episode of The Open-minded Thinker Show. We rely on you to help this video reach other brothers and sisters, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. So please like and share to help us reach them. Don't forget to subscribe to help us of course grow. The press conference you're about to watch would start to you. It started with a very straightened question from a journalist. What have you said to the president and plan to say to other leaders on this trip about the crackdown on human rights? This question is blunt. It is straight to the point, but it flows with the context of authoritarianism depending on how you interpret it. Is the United States ready to allow sovereign nations to make laws that favour their realities or will it arm-twist them to comply with America's interpretation of human rights and social living? I have raised the decision and let me be clear about where we stand. First of all, for the American press who are here, you know that a great deal of work in my career has been to address human rights issues, equality issues across the board, including as it relates to the LGBT community. Perfect. Measured response. The politically correct response. You're of course respect all human rights across the board, including the LGBT right. It's good. Yeah, of course they have right. A very politically correct answer. I have raised the decision and let me be clear about where we stand. First of all, for the American press who are here, you know that a great deal of work in my career has been to address human rights issues, equality issues across the board, including as it relates to the LGBT community. You see, she was asked about legislation against LGBT, but nowhere she stood decided to give a very broad answer. And I feel very strongly about the importance of supporting the freedom and supporting and fighting for equality among all people and that all people be treated equally. I will also say that this is an issue that we consider and I consider to be a human rights issue and that will not change. In Africa, in Asia, in Latin America and in Islam to be specific, rights are respected and says right is right. We can also claim that God has rights as well. Can we also respect God's right? We don't have any such legislation here in Ghana. A bill has been proposed to the parliament of Ghana, which has all kinds of ramifications which is now being considered by the parliament. The generalist corrected. So the statement that there is legislation in Ghana to that effect is not accurate. The bill is going through the parliament. It's going through the parliament. The Attorney General has found it necessary to speak to the committee about it, regarding the constitutionality otherwise of several of its provisions and the parliament is dealing with it. Assumption about non-Western nations has always been the hallmark of menstrual media narrative. Ghana doesn't have any such laws because it is entirely unnecessary where time is devoted more on things like inflation, unemployment and poverty. At the end of the process, I will come in. But in the meantime, the parliament is dealing with it. And I have no doubt that the parliament of Ghana will show as it's done in the past one first of all in sensitivity to human rights issues as well as to the feelings of our population. Yes, the most important is a feeling of the population. Ghana is a conservative country. The people would settle a reject and open display of same sex marriage. And we'll come out with a responsible response to the proposed legislation. It was a legislation that has been provided as a private member's bill. This is not an official legislation of the government, but it is one that has been mooted by a handful of private members. So we will see what the final outcome of it. But my understanding from the recent discussion I had with the committee, the substantial elements of the bill have already been modified as a result of the intervention of the attorney general. We will see what the final outcome will be. And that is the stage at which I will also have the opportunity to provide. For the record, any legislation that doesn't put into consideration that Islam is a second largest religion in Ghana accounted for approximately 18.6% of the population according to the 2021 census would fail. This is because the majority of Muslims in Ghana are Sunni with small communities of Shia Muslims also present. Muslims in Ghana are predominantly found in the northern parts of the country, particularly in the Upper East, Upper West and northern region. However, there are also significant Muslim communities in other parts of the country, including the capital city of Accra, where I visited last year and of course met a considerable number of Muslims. And also we have Muslims in the Ashanti region. There are a number of different Islamic sects and movement present in Ghana, including the Etigiania, Kodrania, Ahmadiyya and Nasrania. The Etigiania and Kodrania are the two largest Sufi Brotherhoods in Ghana, with a strong presence in the northern region of the country. So with these statistics, it's all being likely that Ghana would barge to the LGBT wave. Brothers and sisters, let's leave it right there. Please like, share and subscribe. Until next time, assalamualaikum.