Pres. Atta Mills resists latest UN gay rights call
Ghana’s President John Atta Mills has again rejected calls from Western countries and the United Nations for African states to legalize homosexuality.
“We have made our position well known. Ghanaian society frowns upon homosexuality and everybody has been telling us that democracy means governance for the people, by the people in the interest of the people,” Mills said.
Despite pressure from the international community, the Ghanaian leader said his country would not be forced to make gay and lesbian practice legal.
President Mills reaffirmed his government’s position in reaction to a call by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for gay rights in Africa.
The UN chief told African leaders at the African Union summit in Ethiopia this week that, gays must not be treated as second class citizens or criminals.
But just days after the UN chief’s statement, the Ghanaian President told Journalists on his return home that his country’s position on homosexuality will not change.
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Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf also recently vowed to veto any bill on legalizing homosexuality.
Former acting information Minister and now Sirleaf’s Press Secretary Jerolinmek Piah told the media:
“Liberians should hold this government by her word. This President will not sign into law anything called same sex marriage. This government opposes gay rights. In fact, government will not compromise its religious belief for any (foreign) aid. We have listened to the vast majority of our people who have spoken on this issue and kicked against it, so this government has the will of the people and believes in the dreams and aspirations of the people and I can assure you that President Sirleaf will not sign that bill.”
