Religious leaders in Ghana, including the Catholic bishops, have issued a strongly worded statement saying the West African nation will not compromise its values to satisfy foreign investors promoting LGBTQI+ rights.

In an Aug. 24 joint statement, members of the three Christian Ecumenical Councils in Ghana, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), and the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC), called on Western countries to “stop the incessant attempts to impose unacceptable foreign cultural values on us.”

They said Ghana is a very tolerant and welcoming nation, but “our tolerance is not unlimited.”

“Just as the U.S. and other so-called developed countries have their cultural values which inform what is acceptable and/or unacceptable within their respective jurisdictions, Ghana, as a sovereign nation, also has cultural and religious values that guide, inform and guarantee the sustenance, harmony and cohesiveness of our communities, and we do not intend to compromise those values for LGBTQI+ investors.”

“We find it very unacceptable that as a sovereign country, such intimidating insinuations are being made by high ranking and respected officials,” the church leaders say, adding that “Christian, Muslim, traditional and other minor religious groups constitute over 95 percent of Ghana’s population.”

“As a people, our cultural values and practices must be respected; we do not want the promotion, advertising, practice and/or imposition of LGBTQI+ behavior and practice in Ghana,” the Church leaders add.

“All these religious groups mentioned stand together in abhorring the despicable lifestyle practices and behaviors of LGBTQI+,” the statement said.