A legislator in Ghana's Parliament
Gifty Ohene Konadu has jumped to the defence of British Prime Minister
David Cameron, who has served notice to anti-gay African states to relax
laws on homosexuals or face aid cut from the UK.
Cameron has
come under intense lampoon across Africa for what many describe as
interference in the affairs of sovereign nations of the continent and a
clear disregard for African culture.
However, speaking to Citi
News on Tuesday, Honourable Konadu said she wonders why some people are
riled up by Mr Cameron’s message. She added that homosexuals are human
beings who must enjoy their rights and not to be condemned.
According
to the MP for Asante Akim South, the comment made by the UK premier
calls for a sober analysis for the appropriate conclusions to be drawn
and not for Ghanaians to condemn him in a scathing and vitriolic manner.
“I
don’t understand why people are talking about just one set of people.
.. in any case these are human beings and they must enjoy their rights,"
the MP argued. "So we should not just condemn it. We should look at it
and give it the merit that it deserves."
"I will stand in the
middle, I will not pass any judgement as to whether it is good or bad.
Every issue has its merit and demerit and we should think through it
critically and analyse it before we start making noise and condemning it
left and right.”
Asked whether homosexuality should be
legalised, Honourable Konadu stated that the issue is a broad one that
must be debated and critically analysed before a firm decision can be
taken.
The British Prime Minister’s comment has been received
with strong condemnation from Ghanaians asking the UK to keep its aid if
such conditionality is enforced.
The government of Ghana is yet
to make an official statement on the matter, but the Minister of Trade
and Industry, Hannah Tetteh, has already indicated that Cameron's threat
is unacceptable and that Ghana would not kowtow to any amount of
pressure to change its rules to allow same sex relationships.
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