Homosexuality: How presidents responded to suggestions for legalisation

Homosexuality is a romantic attraction and sexual attraction between members of the same sex or gender. The most common terms for homosexual people are lesbian for females and gay for males, though gay is also used to refer generally to both homosexual males and females.

Homosexuality is not very common in Ghana but over the years there have been a pressure and few call by the society and international community for its legalization.

Ghana crusader.com looks at how presidents and public figures in Ghana have reacted to pressure for its legalization.

President Kufour in 2007 stopped a gay conference in Ghana. The issue of gay rights came up in September,2006 following reports of an intended international gay conference in Accra. The conference never took place as the government of Ghana stopped it as it attracted condemnation from the public and religious groups.

Prof. J.E.A. Mills, former president of Ghana spoke against “homosexual aid with strings”. The late president of Ghana rejected UK’s threat to cut aid if he refuses to legalize homosexuality. Prof. Atta Mills said the UK could not impose its values on Ghana and he would never legalise homosexuality.

Under erstwhile John Mahama administration, his Information Minister, Mahama Ayariga, once explained, ex-president John Mahama’s position on homosexuality, indicating that the act is criminal and punishable under the laws of Ghana, therefore, it wouldn’t be legalized. President Mahama himself didn’t mince words at all condemning it each time it popped up.

Recently, Akufo-Addo added his take by suggesting a personal opinion that legalization of homosexuality in Ghana is bound to happen if majority accept it.

Speaking on Aljazeera’s Talk to Al Jazeera hosted by Jane Dutton the president said until there is a strong call by the society for this to be done, there is no way the laws will be changed.