Saturday, 02 February 2013 08:41
Government yesterday debunked media reports suggesting that President
John Mahama was pushing a gay agenda in the country because of links to
international gay rights activist, Andrew Solomon.
Mahama Ayariga, Minister for Information and Media Relations told the media in an encounter at Parliament that that attempt to connect the President to gayism was unfortunate when he (President Mahama) had sworn to defend the Constitution of Ghana that prohibited the practice of that sexual orientation in the country.
News report in several Ghanaian media outlets yesterday sought to associate President Mahama to Solomon, tying his nomination of Nana Oye Lithur, the human rights activist as the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection as backing that practice because of her strong advocacy for the protection of the rights of homosexuals.
Andrew Solomon is an award-winning writer and lecturer on psychology, politics, and the arts and an activist in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) rights and mental health.
He moderated the launch of President Mahama’s book: “My First Coup D’Etat” in New York, one of the four locations for the official introduction of the paperback in the United States.
Mr Ayariga said that it was purely coincidental that Andrew Solomon moderated the President’s book launch and that the President prior to that encounter had never associated with the author and activist and had no part in determining who moderated that event.
He said the event, carried out in four locations in the US, was organized by the publishers of the book, Bloomsbury, who chose accomplished authors to moderate reading sessions and discussions on the book, and they (organizers) settled on Solomon on the basis of his writing, journalism and for his award-winning publications.
“It was a pure coincidence. The President did not know him before the book launch and has no relationship with him. Solomon was chosen by the organizers to moderate that launch and the president has not liaised with him after that”.
“In the US you can discriminate on the basis of someone’s belief or sexuality and the president does not spend his time determining the sexuality or preferences of those who should attend functions that he graces.
Mr Ayariga said the attempts by those reports to also create the impression that Andrew Solomon was seeking to bring his gay activism to Ghana because of his links with President Mahama was totally unfounded.
He said the call for President Mahama to take a stand on the gay issue was not necessary because the laws which he defends had criminalized that orientation.
“The President has sworn to uphold the laws of the country; and there is no doubt in his mind to his obligation to the Law.”
“There is a clear definite position that it is a crime that those who practice are liable to be prosecuted.
"Ghana has taken a decision on the matter already, so there is no need for President Mahama to make a pronouncement on the issue. He has never stated anywhere that he would repeal the law that makes homosexuality a crime.
“But the rights of every Ghanaian must be respected and upheld irrespective of belief or sexuality”, he said.
Source: GNA
Mahama Ayariga, Minister for Information and Media Relations told the media in an encounter at Parliament that that attempt to connect the President to gayism was unfortunate when he (President Mahama) had sworn to defend the Constitution of Ghana that prohibited the practice of that sexual orientation in the country.
News report in several Ghanaian media outlets yesterday sought to associate President Mahama to Solomon, tying his nomination of Nana Oye Lithur, the human rights activist as the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection as backing that practice because of her strong advocacy for the protection of the rights of homosexuals.
Andrew Solomon is an award-winning writer and lecturer on psychology, politics, and the arts and an activist in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) rights and mental health.
He moderated the launch of President Mahama’s book: “My First Coup D’Etat” in New York, one of the four locations for the official introduction of the paperback in the United States.
Mr Ayariga said that it was purely coincidental that Andrew Solomon moderated the President’s book launch and that the President prior to that encounter had never associated with the author and activist and had no part in determining who moderated that event.
He said the event, carried out in four locations in the US, was organized by the publishers of the book, Bloomsbury, who chose accomplished authors to moderate reading sessions and discussions on the book, and they (organizers) settled on Solomon on the basis of his writing, journalism and for his award-winning publications.
“It was a pure coincidence. The President did not know him before the book launch and has no relationship with him. Solomon was chosen by the organizers to moderate that launch and the president has not liaised with him after that”.
“In the US you can discriminate on the basis of someone’s belief or sexuality and the president does not spend his time determining the sexuality or preferences of those who should attend functions that he graces.
Mr Ayariga said the attempts by those reports to also create the impression that Andrew Solomon was seeking to bring his gay activism to Ghana because of his links with President Mahama was totally unfounded.
He said the call for President Mahama to take a stand on the gay issue was not necessary because the laws which he defends had criminalized that orientation.
“The President has sworn to uphold the laws of the country; and there is no doubt in his mind to his obligation to the Law.”
“There is a clear definite position that it is a crime that those who practice are liable to be prosecuted.
"Ghana has taken a decision on the matter already, so there is no need for President Mahama to make a pronouncement on the issue. He has never stated anywhere that he would repeal the law that makes homosexuality a crime.
“But the rights of every Ghanaian must be respected and upheld irrespective of belief or sexuality”, he said.
Source: GNA
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