The discussion on the practice of homosexuality in the country in recent times has become a topical issue in the media. There have been varied views expressed by people of various statuses in the country. The debate appears to be far from over any time soon. The Oxford Advance Learner’s Dictionary defines a homosexual as somebody (Male of Female) who is sexually attracted to members of his or her own sex. Simply put, homosexuals are people who have sexual affections for people of the same sex. While a male homosexual is referring to as a gay, a female counterpart is a lesbian.
The numerous write ups on the practice in the news papers and panel discussions on radio stations and other sections of the media in the country have been fascinating, interesting, intriguing as well as informative and educative. The practice of homosexuality has been an old age phenomenon. Ideas however, have been divided on whether homosexuals in the country have rights under the supreme laws of the country and whether is a crime or not. In some countries where the practice is prevalent, it is stated very clear in their laws without any ambiguity the extent of acceptance of the practice or otherwise. The same cannot be said of Ghana. The practice of homosexuality can be looked at in several dimensions. More important of these includes the religious aspect, the physiological make up and the socio - cultural dimensions. Many views have been expressed on the possible causes and effects with regards to the various dimensions of looking at the practice of homosexuality.
In expressing his opinion on the practice of homosexuality in the country, a UK Minister urged Ghanaians to go slow on gays. According to the Minister, the anti – gay sentiments being expressed by Churches, Muslim groups and individuals on the practice should be put aside and not pursued. This is because it would pose a threat to the fundamental human rights of homosexuals since the so call gay rights are considered and addressed in accordance with the application of human rights. The Minister added that Ghana’s respect of gay rights would enhance the partnership between the development partners and the government. The UK’s Minister for Africa Development, Mr Stephen O’Brien exhortation for Ghanaians on the practice of homosexuality is worth commenting on. A content analysis of his statement appears to suggest that Ghana should legalise in unequivocal terms the practice of homosexuality and we would get more loans and grants from our development partners. This exhortation by the UK Minister to Ghanaians to me was unfortunate.
Thank God he was only expressing his views like many
other people. It is up to Ghanaians to either go slow on gays or fast track the
process of clarifying the legality of the practice. Or better still,
maintaining the current position of just talking and expressing of opinions
while the substantive issue remained unresolved. I see the Minister’s linkage of
gay’s rights in the country to the relation of our development partners as a
threat. Is a threat in the sense that the more stringent our laws are to
criminalize homosexuality, the less assistance we would be receiving from our
development partners: If the UK Minister is urging Ghanaians to go slow on
gays, then he is invariably telling us to stop talking about the practice?
Because even to this level, some of us see the country’s commitment of fighting
this practice as too slow. We need to rather fast track the process of making
clearer our laws as far as homosexuality is concern.
To add more insult to injuries and to confirm the UK Minister’s concern, it was alleged in recent times that the UK government according to the Mail, is threatening to cut aid to Ghana and Uganda if the countries continue to persecute homosexuals. According to the paper, the Department for International Development has said that it had raised objections to developments in Uganda and Ghana, months after it suspended £19m of general budget support to Malawi. The UK’s International Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell threatens to impose further aid ‘fines’ against Ghana and Uganda for hard-line anti-gay and lesbian measures. The paper continued that the policy was disclosed after Mr. Cameron defended his decision to legalize gay weddings when he addressed a Conservative Party conference. Cameron wants to persuade countries such as Ghana and Uganda where homosexuality is still a taboo to follow his lead – and he is ready to reduce aid to some of the world’s poorest people to do so. I hope this is just rumuors and that the UK government would not go by these threats.
Religiously, it is sinful and an abomination to indulge in the practice of homosexuality. This is one of several issues that most religions if not all agrees on the sinfulness of homosexuality. It is biblically sinful to say the least to indulge in the practice of homosexuality and an abomination in the Islamic context. Thus the religious position is unambiguous, explicit, indisputable and clearly stated. However, the ordinations of homosexuals as ministers by some religious sect make people to wonder how they understand the word of God. May be the fundamental human rights as stated by the UK Minister is also applicable in the interpretation of religious writings and books.
Socio - Culturally, homosexuality is unthinkable, prohibited, forbidden, barred, offensive and out of bounds. In fact, it is taboo to indulge in the practice of homosexuality not only in Ghana but most part if not the whole of Africa. However, due to western influence and the modern trend of events, this practice appears to have been accommodated for some time now. Some medical practitioners have tried to make us understand that homosexuality is a medical defect in the sexual orientation of a person. It is also seen as a mental disorder. This latter view, regards homosexuality as pathology. Psychoanalysts also viewed homosexuals as the victims of faulty development and a deviant condition. All this biological explanation of homosexuality though acceptable they may be, does not make the practice natural and acceptable to the socio – cultural lives of the citizenry. Anything in this world that is defective means that it is abnormal, imperfect, faulty and not functioning properly. Therefore such items need to be corrected to conform to the norm and the acceptable one. As such, if homosexuality is a medical defect, then it needs to be corrected or treated as required. A person born with a medical defect is treated.
The UK government stand if it is true and their Minister’s exhortation and his linkage of homosexuality’s rights to economic support from our development partners are totally unrelated. Statistically, the correlation is zero. There should be strict and clear laws to guide the practice of homosexuality in the country in order to curb the practice. It is destroying the moral fibre of the society. Our cultural values as Ghanaians and Africans for that matter are being wiped away by this practice and its continuous existence. The fact that homosexuality is legal in some countries does not mean that it should be the same in Ghana. Thank You.
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