I don’t know Ghana’s position on gay rights – Victor Smith

Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, H.E Ambassador Victor Emmanuel Smith says he is unable to state what Ghana’s position is on the issue of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights.

His comments come after Minority MPs in the Scottish Parliament stormed out of their parliament upon arrival of the President John Mahama who is on a state visit over claims that Ghana tolerates abuses on homosexuals. They argued the presence of Mr. Mahama was an affront to the gay community in their country since they respect and recognize their rights.

The action has been roundly criticized by several Ghanaians respected Ghanaian lawyer Ace Ankomah. The astute lawyer in his remarks on the matter described the action by the MPs as cheap, crass and low.

However speaking to Fiifi Banson on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.3 FM, Ambassador Victor Smith, who is part of President Mahama’s entourage stated that as a representative of Ghana in the UK, he’ll repeat the same statements late President Mills made that Ghana does not support gay practices in the country, if he (Victor Smith) should ever be asked abroad about Ghana’s position on the matter.

“I don’t know what Ghana’s stand on the issue is, I remember when the British tried to link issues of gay rights to aid, President Mills was quite emphatic about our opposition to gay practices. Prof. Mills handed over to President John Mahama and I think that we share the same sentiments. We haven’t gone to Parliament to discuss these things in details to make a law for or against it.

He continued: “I remember when Prof. Mills made that statement at the time, I was Ambassador to Czech Republic and I had the chance to write a letter to the UK that our President has made his point and that they should respect his position. I don’t think we’ve gone away from that position as we speak.

Ambassador Victor Smith emphasized the need for President John Mahama to continue with his tactful nature on the issue of gay rights.

“In the global arena when such issues come up there are various interests. The President cannot behave like how Donald Trump is behaving in America trying to put America in a tight corner because what he’s saying is courting enmity and dislike for America even though he thinks what he’s doing is best. So the President treads very cautiously and carefully on the international arena on what he says in relation to such issues”.