What Ghana’s presidents have all said about the LGBTQ+ subject
Jerry John Rawlings and John Evans Atta Mills may no longer be alive but their words on many subjects including this growing, resurfaced subject of the rights or otherwise of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Intersex Rights (LGBTQ+) sexual orientation are there to refer to. In the case of the late former President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, while there is no definite public reference to what he said on the subject, all other presidents within the Fourth Republic of Ghana have had a thing or two to say. Recently, the conversations on the rights of persons of the LGBTQ+ community in Ghana have resurfaced mainly after news broke of the opening of a new office for persons of this sexual orientation in Accra. This was followed by separate comments by the ministers-designate for Justice and Attorney General, Godfred Dame; Gender, Children and Social Protection, Sarah Adwoa Safo; Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey; and Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah. In each of these instances, the ministers-designate all re-emphasized the stance of Ghana’s laws on the practice, albeit not definite, drawing in the defenses of how our culture and values as a people frown on them. Like a raging fire, social media has been riddled with discussions on the subject, topping trends, and people who support the act are coming out, alike those who disagree with the act, boldly stating so. But what have our presidents under the Fourth Republic been saying, or, said about the subject, of course, without that of the late former president, Jerry John Rawlings. GhanaWeb brings you the details, starting with former president John Agyekum Kufuor. John Agyekum Kufuor: In 2019, during the meeting of members of the National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values and John Agyekum Kufuor, he urged the world to fight against same-sex marriages. He stated that no amount of argument could change the fact that without man and woman, there would be no human race, a Ghanaian Times report said. He added that the promotion of same-sex marriages is unnatural and immoral behavior in Ghana and Africa at large, and is totally unnecessary and dangerous because humanity could not continue if such acts were condoned. “No one was born gay, people just want to convince us to accept this blatant lie, but let us show them that we are real Africans, we cannot fight against nature and win. We will not conform to such disgraceful activities, even in Europe, majority of the people do not encourage homosexuality. As long as they remain in the minority, let us keep pushing till they accept that LGBT is not right and persons who identify as such, rather need some kind of help instead of forcing it on Africans.” Earlier, during his presidency, John Agyekum Kufuor had opposed a gay conference that was supposed to be held in Ghana. John Evans Atta Mills For John Evans Atta Mills, his was an emphatic “No” statement on the subject of LGBTQ+. In an interaction with the media during his presidency, and in reaction to comments by then British Premier David Cameron that they may consider cutting aid to Ghana should the country not legalize gay rights, the late former president was forthright, ruling out any possibility of the legalization of same. He added that Cameron was entitled to opinions, stressing that laws must take into account the cultures and histories of a given people. “Let me make one thing very clear: no one can deny Prime Minister Cameron his right to make policies, take initiatives or make statements that reflect his societal norms and ideals but he does not have the right to direct other sovereign nations as to what they should do especially when their societal norms and ideals are different from those which exist in Prime Minister Cameron’s society. “I, as president of this nation, will never initiate or support any attempts to legalize homosexuality in Ghana. As a government, we will adhere by the principles enshrined in our constitution which is supreme. Let me also say, that while we acknowledge all the financial assistance and all the aid which have been given to us by our development partners, we will not accept any aid with strings attached if that aid will not inure to our interest or the implementation or the utilization of that aid with strings attached would rather worsen our plight as a nation, or, destroy the very society we want to use the money to improve,” he said. John Dramani Mahama: John Dramani Mahama had similar comments as his predecessor and former boss, John Atta Mills. Speaking through his Information Minister at the time, Mahama Ayariga, the former president indicated that the act is criminal and punishable under the laws of Ghana. “The President is to execute the laws of Ghana. And the laws of Ghana are very clear on homosexuality. The laws of Ghana appall and criminalize homosexuality, there is no dispute about that. Homosexual conduct which is unnatural canal knowledge of one person or another is criminal and punishable by the laws of Ghana,” he said. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo: Incumbent president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo, in an interview with Gulf news channel, Al Jazeera, said the issue of same-sex relationships was not on the agenda of the country although he believes that its snowball effect will soon reach Africa. “At the moment, I don’t feel and I don’t see that in Ghana there is that strong current of opinion that is saying that this is something that we need even deal with. It is not so far a matter which is on the agenda. “I don’t believe that in Ghana so far, a sufficiently strong coalition has emerged which is having that impact of public opinion that will say, change it; let’s then have a new paradigm in Ghana,” he said. Ghanaweb Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Election petition: SC to deliver judgment 4 March
The Supreme Court has set Thursday, 4 March 2021 to deliver judgment in the ongoing election petition. This was announced by the Chair of the seven-member panel of judges, Chief Justice (CJ) Kwasi Anin Yeboah during the hearing on Tuesday, 22 February 2021. Meanwhile, the court has dismissed a third review application filed by former President John Mahama, the petitioner in the ongoing election petition, which prayed the court to overturn its own ruling of 16 February 2021, in which it denied Mr Mahama the opportunity to reopen his case. “The application under review was dismissed because it was not based on known law or rules of practice. We dismiss the instant application and we hold it without merit”, Chief Justice ANin Yeboah read out in court on Monday, 22 February 2021. Prior to Monday’s ruling, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, the lead counsel for Mr Mahama, had argued that the court “prejudiced” its “fair exercise of discretion” in denying his client the opportunity to reopen his case in the earlier ruling. The ordinary court, on Tuesday, 16 February 2021, ruled unanimously that “a mere filing of a witness statement is not an election to testify”. Chief Justice Anin Yeboah read: “As we’ve already indicated in this ruling supra, the petitioner in this application has not given us an inkling of the new or fresh evidence he wants to bring to the fore through the Chairperson of the first respondent and how that evidence could assist the court to do justice to the matters under consideration in this petition. Neither has he disclosed how that evidence will advance the cause of his petition. “For the above-stated reasons, we find no merit or favour in the petitioner’s application to reopen his case for the sole purpose of compelling his adversaries’ intended witness to testify through a subpoena without indicating the sort of evidence he intends to solicit from the said witness and how that evidence is going to help the court in resolving the dispute before us. We accordingly refuse the application and proceed without any hesitation to dismiss it”, the ruling said. Classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Mahama not being given fair hearing – Sammy Gyamfi
National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Sammy Gyamfi has said that the petitioner in the ongoing election petition hearing, Mr John Mahama is not being given a fair hearing by the court. Addressing the media after court proceedings on Monday February 22, Mr Gyamfi said “The bottom line is that the petitioner is worried that the court, in deciding these applications are not applying statutes that had been passed by our parliament, statutes that the court has been applying in other cases and we think that the petitioner is being denied a fair hearing and it is important to pursue these issues to the logical conclusions.” During proceedings on Monday, the Supreme Court of Ghana by a unanimous decision dismissed a review application filed by lawyers of Mr Mahama, against the court’s earlier ruling on whether or not witnesses can be compelled to testify in the court. Chief Justice Anin Yeboah in the ruling on behalf of the nine justices said the application was without merit and accordingly dismissed it. Lead counsel of the petitioner in the ongoing election petition hearing Tsatsu Tsikata has yet again made a case for the Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling on Tuesday, February 16. The seven justices of the apex court of Ghana unanimously dismissed the application of the petitioner, John Dramani Mahama, for the case to be re-opened in order to subpoena the Chair of the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC), the First Respondent, to testify in court as a “hostile witness”. On Monday, February 22, Mr Tsikata questioned the basis of the ruling, saying the justices themselves were surprised when the First Respondent closed its case without calling its witness, Jean Adukwei Mensah, to testify. Mr Tsikata said the justices may have their reasons for the decision to dismiss the application but “it is the ruling of the panel that we are here to question”. “I am not in the minds of the panel,” he stressed. He further argued that for Mrs Mensa to have filed a witness statement meant that she was committed to mount the witness box. “We have no reason to say she was not telling the truth,” he said. For him, the Holy Bible should guide the nine justices reviewing the case, quoting Hosea 8:7. For him, the Holy Bible should guide the nine justices reviewing the case, quoting Hosea 8:7. It states: “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.” He concluded: “May each of the lordships decide based on your conscience and your judicial oath.” Counsels for the respondents – Justin Amenuvor for the First Respondent and Akoto Ampaw for the Second Respondent – asked the Court to set aside the review application since it does not merit its prayer. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Ayine is solely responsible for consequences of his comments against Supreme Court – NPP
The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has rejected claims by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that spokespersons for lawyers of the 2nd respondent in the election petition hearing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah and Henry Nana Boakye are inciting the court against Dr Dominic Ayine who also speaks for lawyers of the petitioner. A Statement by Yaw Buabeng Asamoah, National Communications Director, of the NPP said on Friday February 19 “it is an affront to the apex court of the land for the NDC to suggest that the venerable, experienced and learned Justices of the Supreme Court (SC) who, over time, have demonstrated to be independent and objective are amenable to ‘incitement’ by spokespersons of the 2nd Respondent.” It added “The claim that Hon. Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah Esq. and Henry Nana Boakye Esq. seek to incite the SC against Dr Dominic Ayine is a blatant falsehood that must be rejected by Ghanaians. “The unfortunate comments from Dr Dominic Ayine that ‘for the Supreme Court to reduce the Petition into a single issue Petition is rather unfortunate and smacks of a predetermined agenda to rule against the Petitioner in this matter…we think that the court by this decision has not done the people of this country a great service. In the sense that Ghanaians are interested in knowing the truth…the Justices, today, have not given us a reason to believe that they want the people of this country to know the truth about what happened’ were voluntarily uttered by Dr. Ayine and he is solely responsible for its consequences.” Below is the full statement… RE: ATTEMPTS BY KOJO OPPONG-NKRUMAH AND HENRY NANA BOAKYE TO INCITE THE SUPREME COURT AGAINST NDC LAWYERS The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has taken notice of a press release from the NDC that seeks to create the false impression that the Supreme Court is being “INCITED” to cite Dr. Dominic Ayine for Contempt and also the lead Counsel of the Petitioner has been subjected to attacks by Hon. Kojo Oppong- Nkrumah Esq. and Henry Nana Boakye Esq. The NPP takes strong exception to the plain lies therein and without a shred of equivocation, state: 1. It is an affront to the apex court of the land for the NDC to suggest that the venerable, experienced and learned Justices of the Supreme Court (SC) who, over time, have demonstrated to be independent and objective are amenable to “INCITEMENT” by spokespersons of the 2nd Respondent. 2. The claim that Hon. Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah Esq. and Henry Nana Boakye Esq. seek to incite the SC against Dr Dominic Ayine is a blatant falsehood that must be rejected by Ghanaians. 3. The unfortunate comments from Dr Dominic Ayine that “for the Supreme Court to reduce the Petition into a single issue Petition is rather unfortunate and smacks of a predetermined agenda to rule against the Petitioner in this matter…we think that the court by this decision has not done the people of this country a great service. In the sense that Ghanaians are interested in knowing the truth…the Justices, today, have not given us a reason to believe that they want the people of this country to know the truth about what happened” were voluntarily uttered by Dr. Ayine and he is solely responsible for its consequences. 4. Dr Ayine has in the past been warned by the court for his conduct aimed at disparaging the Supreme Court. 5. The suggestion that the Lawyers and Spokespersons of the 2nd Respondent have been attacking, insulting and belittling the lead Counsel of the Petitioner is a plain falsehood, mischievously crafted to solicit public sympathy for the legal team of the Petitioner to conceal their poor performance, evident from the dismissals almost every major motion/application they have filed has suffered thus far. 6. The regrettable attitude of the lead Counsel of the Petitioner towards the bench has been a matter of public outrage and it is not correct to suggest that it is the lawyers or spokespersons of the 2nd Respondent that have made a case out of it. 7. It is utterly shocking for the National Communications Officer of the NDC who, over the years, have persistently insulted and disrespected President Akufo-Addo – someone whose legal and political achievements, the former may never be able to attain in his entire life – to lament and suggest that the spokespersons of the 2nd Respondent ought to show deference to seniors at the Bar when in actual fact, there hasn’t been any act of disrespect on the part of the 2nd Respondent’s team towards the Petitioner’s lawyers or spokespersons. 8. We encourage the NDC team to focus on explaining to their supporters why the statistics they earlier claimed were in their favour have been abandoned in court. 9. We also admonish them to desist from misinforming the public on developments in court and also refrain from their penchant to create a false impression that the court is biased against them. 10. The Spokespersons for the 2nd Respondent’s legal team will remain forthright and continuously inform the public on the truth about developments in court and not hesitate to respond adequately to the NDC propaganda. Thank you Yaw Buabeng Asamoah, Esq. (National Communications Director, NPP) Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Ayine blocks questions from media after apologizing to Supreme Court
Former Deputy Attorney General Dr Dominic Ayine has apologized to the Supreme Court over his contemptuous comments against the justices of the high court regarding the ongoing election petition hearing. The Supreme Court Monday February 22, 2021 ordered the Bolgatanga East lawmaker to go and retract comments he had publicly made which the court deems contemptuous. He had earlier said in a media interview that the decision of the Supreme Court not to allow the petitioner reopen his case to subpoena chairperson of the 1st Respondent Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, was “predetermined”. This, the court deemed scandalous and brought contempt charges against Mr. Ayine, a case which was heard Monday. During the hearing, a remorseful looking Mr. Ayine said he had written a letter to the court apologizing for his comments. Counsel for the contemnor Dr. Ayine also pleaded on behalf of his client asking the mercy of the court. The court, in accepting the apology of the contemnor acknowledged the fact he is a senior member of the bar but made the following consequential orders. “We accept the apology of learned counsel for the contemnor, we however order that the contemnor purges his contempt by retracting his scandalous on the very same medium before Thursday, 25th February, 2021, when the court will reconvene. The contempt proceedings is thus adjourned to Thursday, 25th February, 2021″, the ruled. After apologizing to the court on live television, Dr Ayine told the journalists that “In respect of this matter I won’t take any questions from the press.” 3news Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
No amount of Pressure will make government succumb to legalize LGBTQI–Sanusi Issah
Communication Director of the governing New Patriotic Party in the Region Sanusi Issah has said no amount of pressure will make the government succumb to the call for legalization of Lesbianism, Homosexuality, Bestiality and Transgender, and other related practices of LGBTQI. According to Mr. Sanusi, it will not be too surprising that God is angry with us humans due to such a devilish act by his creature, the reason why he is using COVID-19 to punish us. He said he is extremely happy because President since had made it clear that he will not legalize LGBTQI under his watch as a president. “No amount of pressure should calm us down to succumb to what these people want us to do, I am also extremely happy, the government has shown a way and also show resilience. So, no amount of pressure from anywhere that will let the government calm down and say they should legalize this thing”. “As back as 2018, the President of the Republic of Ghana made it clear even in the means of these people, that Ghana is not going to legalize it not under his watch. So am happy as a Ghanaian, this thing is been formed again by all that irrespective of your background unless those who are also someway somehow have gone wayward out of social norms that also involved themselves in some of these things. It uncalled for, it is uncultured, it is not religious and it is not meritorious for anybody to accept that these people should exist in society”. “Who Knows by our religion, by our faith, it is a combination of these things that made God angry and he will unleased something for you and you will not be able to contain it. So, we don’t want to get more or serious things than COVID-19 because of somebody’s activities. I support the call by the bishops and anybody at all who is against LGBTQI legalization in Ghana”. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Extend one term of office from 4 years to 6 years– Dr. Abu Sakara Proposed
Lead Specialist Development Consultant at the international Development Organizations Dr. Abu Sakara Foster is advocating for a Six (6) year tenure for every government to enable them complete projects. According to Dr. Sakara a tenure of one term is extended to six years in office it will be sufficient for every government. He was making his point based on the continuous experience of government abandoning projects initiated by their opponent which should have been continued for the benefit of the ordinary citizens. Dr. Sakara said, “Attribution- new government want their own manifesto laden projects and are reluctant to complete projects attributable to their ousted opponent”. “Creating new opportunities for Rent-seeking behavior by political leaders, with the irresponsible signing of new contracts in the last year of their tenure of office”. “A short term of 4 years tenure is insufficient to conclude very large projects. Six (6) year tenure of one term in office is proposed”? “Again, some policy reforms are needed. More importantly, a referendum will be required to: A) Extend one term of office from 4 years to 6 years B) Ensure 5-year segments of a long-term 40-year national development plan is followed with some but limited latitude for adjustment. The liberal use of party manifestos is the major source of contract cancellation. If all manifestos were synchronized with the long-term plan in 5-year segments there would be no need for cancellation of contracts”. Below is his full statement Stop the diversion of public funds down judgment debt drain. Judgment debt is a major avenue for wasting (diverting) significant amounts of our limited funds. It has happened with every administration throughout the fourth republic. It is indeed a serious drain on national finances and occurs too frequently and predictably. To stop it we must focus on the cause of the problem. There are at least three main driving factors; 1. Attribution- new govts want their own manifesto laden projects and are reluctant to complete projects attributable to their ousted opponent. 2. Creating new opportunities for Rent seeking behaviour by political leaders, with irresponsible signing of new contracts in the last year of their tenure of office. 3. A short term of 4 years tenure is insufficient to conclude very large projects. Six (6) year tenure of one term in office is proposed. Again, some policy reforms are needed. More importantly a referendum will be required to: A) Extend one term of office from 4 years to 6 years B) Ensure 5-year segments of a long term 40-year national development plan is followed with some but limited latitude for adjustment. The liberal use of party manifestos is the major source of contract cancellation. If all manifestos were synchronized with the long-term plan in 5-year segments there would be no need fo cancellation of contracts. Punishments for cancellation should begin by suing the officials at the point of cancellation not years later. Such suits should include political leaders that sign contracts in the last months of their last term of office if it is obvious that those contracts are unbudgeted in that last year’s budget. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
MMDCEs: We have not tasked any executive to vet MMDCEs, be wary of such people. John Boadu cautioned
Upper East Region is one of the regions that started with the compilation of names a few weeks after the general election for those interested in the position of MMDCEs in the region. Even though such a hasty move by the secretariat received some kind of criticisms from some well-meaning members of the governing NPP and some members of the opposition in the region, following the abysmal performance witness by the governing party in the region in the 2020 election It appears the national secretariat of the governing party did not sanction or even tasked any region to start any vetting process which had actually taken place in the Upper East Region. The National general secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Mr. John Boadu has cautioned prospective candidates for the position of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives to be wary of people purporting to have been tasked by the President Akufo-Addo and the party to vet candidates for those positions. Mr. Boadu insists that President will be in charge when time is due for the selection of MMDCEs, stressing that the party will not have any hand in the selection. ”I want to put it on record that the selection of MMDCEs is yet to start and when it does the New Patriotic Party will have no hands in it”. ”We have seen stories indicating that the party has tasked people to vet candidates for us, we want to put it on record that nothing of that sort has been done and people who engage in this act do so at their own peril” Mr. Boadu told the media. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Mahama’s legal team spokespersons introduced Hausa version interpretation after SC ruling
The legal team of former President John Dramani Mahama has introduced the Hausa version of the Supreme Court explanation to the media and the general public. The Hausa version was first introduced on Thursday, February 18, 2021, after the Supreme Court ruling dismissing their client John Mahama’s application. The norm for the two parties NDC/NPP has been English to address the media with the queen’s language and Twi but surprisingly, one of the legal team spokespersons Baba Jamal came up with the Hausa version. This according to the people from the North is a smart move because it will enable them to understand the actual court proceeding as citizens. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +233555568093
Withdraw the case, “don’t allow the injustices judges to give an injustice judgement”
Stephen Atubiga has intensified his call for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the petitioner the former President John Dramani Mahama to withdraw the ongoing election petition. According to Mr. Atubiga, the party should not allow what he describes as ‘injustices judges’ to give an injustice judgment. “We should not allow the injustices judges to give an injustice judgment. We are ready and standing by to face some national leadership of the NDC squarely after the case is over”. Below is the full statement: NDC / JDM should withdraw from the election petition. We should not allow the injustices judges to give an injustice judgment. We are ready and standing by to face some national leadership of the NDC squarely after the case is over. A lot of questions to ask. Most of the national executives should not even try seeking re-election. Whilst the like of General mosquito, Sammy Gymfi, Otokunor, and co must be re-elected. Unopposed if possible. 1)The EC headquarters strong room case would be settled the NDC way after the court. 2)The conspiracy theory in Kumasi and other areas about JDMs votes reduction would be settled the NDC ways. 3)we would know, how one million, seven hundred specifically given to it, just for the collation of results, and end results we got. 4) we will know how most national executives were not in talking terms during election time till date, and expecting to give JDM victory. 5) we will know how others deliberately ignored others who were able and ready to help give JDM victory. 6) why others were bent on sitting around JDM, especially on D day instead of on the ground to give JDM victory. 7) from JDM campaign team and the NDC team, who was in charge on D day , failed to coordinate for our victory. 8) why JDM campaign manager and his team did not declare JDM winner immediately after the election. And announcement of his transitional team. 9) from the youth wings, organizers wing to zongo wings have lots of questions for them after the election petition. Some should resign for their own interest. 10) JDM our leader today and tomorrow, and candidate today and tomorrow. Will equally be told the hardest truth, those who cussed his defeat, those who (had) and have no business around him. Those who could have propelled his victory, if he had sought their help. Especially why JDM with his experience, is refusing to see the direct and indirect traps around him For his defeat today and tomorrow? 11) JDM must know NDC party machinery is not religious, to be Mr nice and good father for all, especially in election periods. JDM must know he is occupying the vacuum of JJ as our leader for life today. JDM is holding 60/100 stake in the NDC party today. JDM is the only surviving former president and incoming president if he sits up. JDM should get it now that, blood must sometimes have to flow both internally and externally for NDCs victory Well, a lot of anger and disappointing issues to let out, after the election petition is over. Stephen Atubiga. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +233555568093