<<Print>>

UNTIL we, as a people and a country, take a firm stance on the subject of homosexuality, it must be said that it will not go away that easily.  It surfaced during the Mahama-led administration.

WE recall the then opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the time tried to score political points out of the matter, following the ex-President John Dramani Mahama’s association with gay activist, Andrew Solomon.

TODAY the tables have turned and it is the turn of the ruling NPP which is receiving flaks for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s recent remarks on homosexuality.  One may ask what has reignited this dormant subject.

IN a recent interview on AlJazeera, President Akufo-Addo made the point that although the pressure to legalise homosexuality was not that severe, Ghana was likely to acquiesce should there be enormous pressure.

THIS is what the President said, “I don’t think that in Ghana so far, a sufficiently strong coalition has emerged which is having that impact on public opinion that will say change it [the law], let’s then have a new paradigm in Ghana.  I think it is something that is bound to happen like elsewhere in the world, the activities of individuals or groups,” he said.

THE above statement by the President is what has invited loads of flaks on him and his party with many questioning his motive behind the statement.  We have heard government come out with a response to what appears to be a clarification on what the President said.

ACCORDING to Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, government has no plans of legalising homosexuality now.  He goes on to make it clear that homosexuality continues to be unacceptable because our cultural norms and practices frown upon it.

“AT the moment, I don’t feel, I don’t see that in Ghana there is that strong current of opinion that is saying this is something we need to deal with.  It is not so far a matter that is on the agenda,” he said.

IN the view of Today, the information minister spoke exactly what the President said during his interview with AlJazeera. Both the President and his appointee- Mustapha Hamid- are virtually on the same wavelength.

WE have also heard religious bodies and some civil society groups come out to urge the President to clarify that aspect of his interview.  In fact, what does the President mean when he says: “It is something that is bound to happen?  Is our President suggesting that surely a day will come when Ghana will endorse homosexuality?

THE point is that insofar as we fail to deal with this subject once and for all, it will continue to haunt us.  That is why it is important for us to deal with this matter decisively.

WE at Today have maintained and will continue to hold this position that homosexuality is against our socio-cultural beliefs and practices and must therefore not be given a space in this country.

THUS, we will always stand and speak against any attempt(s) to legalise it.  And we charge our leaders to do so!