Parliament Reject Legalization of Homosexuality

Accra, Nov 04, GNA –Mr Cletus Avoka, Majority Leader in Parliament has commended the President for his bold stand on the issue of homosexuals and coming clear that Ghana will not legalize the practice.

He said: “We have enough of foreign cultures” adding the house will not deliberate on it and legalize it.

Mr Avoka was contributing to a statement made on the floor of Parliament by Mr Joe Appiah, Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North on homosexuality and lesbianism in Ghana.

He said what the President said was in consonance with the nation’s constitution, adding “homosexuality and lesbianism is an interest, if your interest infringes on our dignity it is not a right."

Mr Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, Minority Leader, cautioned that people should be careful not to insult but rather addressed the issue, saying that everyone was clear where Ghana stands.

Mr Alfred Abayateye, National Democratic Congress MP for Sege, said God in his own wisdom created man and woman for every male to go in for a female and female to marry a male and even animals did not go in for the same sex partners.

He, however, said there were some cultures that Ghana did not have to import.

Papa Owusu Ankoma, New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Secondi, said people might have their sexual preferences but it does not mean it was alright, “The time has come for us to earn our social values.

He said what they expected was what the president had done; to express the deep seated feelings of the people of Ghana. "Animals do not sleep with themselves why should human beings do this," and added so shun homosexuals on no account should we applaud them.

“It is a sexual preference and we will advice any known practitioners to change by telling them that we do not believe this preference of theirs will be allowed.”

Mrs Kusi Gifty Eugenia said that homosexuals should be prosecuted and given sentences to deter others from engaging in it.

She said the criminal code needed to be amended because the provision only highlighted on unnatural canal knowledge.

Mrs Gifty Oheneba Konadu, NPP Member of Parliament for Asante Akim South said ”I am not for homosexuals” adding that she had some knowledge in sociology and theory and holds the nations values in high esteem.

She said her on comments on the UK's Prime Minister call for legalization of same sex marriage, was only an objective analysis she made and that she was not happy with the condemnation so far leveled against David Cameron, adding that "who am I" to stand a lone voice and say I support it, when everyone is against the practice.

Mr Joe Appiah said human rights undoubtedly was supreme and fundamental to our existence, adding that it was also our supreme interest as legislators but when these rights appeared abnormal and barbaric, then measures should be put in place to curtail it.

He said all religions, muslims, traditionalists, Christians regard lesbiansm and homosexuality as affront and detestable to humanity, adding I respect them as human beings created in God’s image but I reject their orientation and desires as opposed to the creators original will - for the Holy book was written as a guide for every generation including ours and it has explicitly warned against such canal desires.