Human rights issues not absolute in Ghana – Lawyer asserts

Fundamental human rights in Ghana and Africa, especially those bothering on homosexuality are not absolute, human rights lawyer Francis-Xavier Sosu has said.

Speaking on human rights issues on 3FM in Accra Friday, Mr Sosu argued human rights issues are limited to public interest and the rights of other people.

According to him, the laws of Ghana are formed on cultural values, hence until there is a change in Ghanaian values, those laws cannot be changed.

Commenting on President Nana Akufo-Addo’s recent comment that suggested homosexuality is “bound to happen” in Ghana, the lawyer said the president’s comment does not reflect the aspirations and interest of Ghanaians “Homosexuality will not happen, and that is why the president did not receive any applause from Ghanaians on his comment, because it cannot be bound to happen as he suggested,” Mr. Sosu said.

Mr. Sosu who is also the President of Youth for Human Right Africa, laws that promote homosexuality undermine the fundamental values of Ghana as a country.

“Our values are part of our laws, so what is meant by sexual orientation in America you may not find in Africa because it is not supported by African values,” he noted.

He contended that most human right lawyers in Africa do not consider homosexuality as one of the most fundamental issues confronting Africa now.

“Children are being enslaved with women and children taken through inhumane practices in Africa. There are a lot of people who do not have access to portable water and health care which are all human right issues,” he observed.

Meanwhile, Youth for Human Right Africa, an advocacy group led by Lawyer Francis-Xavier Sosu will on December 11, hold a human rights conference in Accra.

Themed “Promoting fundamental human rights; a catalyst for accelerated socio-economic development in a free and just society,” the conference would bring together human rights ambassadors and promoters from across Africa to dialogue on pertinent human right issues.

The conference is also aimed at equipping people to become more effective in the promotion and advocacy for fundamental rights human.