Mills and Mahama endorsed gay rights - Former MP

A leading member of the rulling New Patriotic Party (NPP) claims Former Presidents John Evans Atta Mills and John Dramani Mahama endorsed gay rights.

Former Member of Parliament for Bantama Constituency Hon. Henry Kwabena Kokofu insists comments by both presidents during their time in office against the practice, were just mere rhetoric, since their posture and conduct portrayed otherwise.

The government was compelled last week to state its position on the same-sex relationship after the president told an international media the practice could be legalised if Ghanaians call for it.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had told Jane Dutton on Talk to Al Jazeera, legalisation of homosexuality is not on his government's agenda.

But the status of gays in the country could change if there is a groundswell of pressure for that to be done, he said.

“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.

Pressure groups, religious organizations and political opponents have taken issues with the president over his comments.The Christian Council of Ghana even served notice it will oppose any attempt by the government to change the laws banning homosexuality.

A final report which received a presidential accent on a government's white paper states the overwhelming majority of Ghanaians decided that gays and lesbians should not given any rights.

On page 657, recommendations from constitutional review Committee paragraph 129, says the commission recommends that the legalities or other wise of homosexuality be decided by the Supreme Court if the matter comes before the court.

According to the former MP for Bantama who alluded to the report, "these presidents (Mills and Mahama), considering their public condemnation against gays and lesbians, could have rejected that portion of the committee's report but went ahead to give it the green light.

"So the President, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo knowing very well what was in the report of the constitutional review Committee was being very careful and only sought our religious and other institutions to stand up against it," he added.

Hon Kokofu, who was speaking in an interview with Kwame Nkrumah Tikese on Okay Fm's "Ade Akye Abia" programme, however asked Ghanaians to shun the propaganda being advanced by members of the opposition and "rally behind the president who is working to put the country back on track".

"....homosexuality is not our culture, we should join the clarion call to speak against it like what the president, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo sought to do," he stated.