Ghana In Trouble Over Gay Rights

Posted on :www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday October 12, 2011.
The British government is planning to punish Ghana and other African countries for trampling on gay rights.

The punishment will come in the form of aid slash.

British Prime Minister David Cameron’s government is reported to have vowed to get tough on Ghana and others who have poor records on gay rights.

According to British Daily Mail, Andrew Mitchell UK’s International Development Secretary, is ready to tell African leaders they will receive funding "fines" if gay rights are not respected.

President John Evans Atta Mills has not taken an official position on homosexuality, despite numerous calls for tougher laws. Currently, the law forbids “unnatural carnal knowledge.”

In the Western Region, Minister Paul Evans Aidoo heightened the debate recently when he called for the heads of homosexuals by ordering the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to arrest them.

“We want to get rid of these people from the society,” he had said. “We want to get them so that we can test the strength of our laws.”

Christian leaders have already threatened to mobilize their congregations against politicians who defend homosexuality and lesbianism while Muslim leaders have also been swift to condemn homosexuality.

According to Daily Mail, the policy to slash aid to gay-unfriendly countries was re-affirmed when Mr. Cameron defended his decision to legalize gay weddings at a Conservative Party conference last week.

The British Prime Minister is reported to have vowed 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 in order to push for gay rights.

A UK government spokesman is reported to have said they are committed "to combating violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in all circumstances, in this country and abroad."

Reiterating Britain's threat of aid withdrawal, the spokesman added, "We only provide aid directly to governments when we are satisfied that they share our commitments to reduce poverty and respect human rights."

Last month, the leaders of Britain's three main political parties pledged their support for a new London-based gay rights organization, called Kaleidoscope, hoping to modernize gay rights in former British colonies.

The organization, which plans to leverage the UK's political clout by encouraging countries to revoke discriminatory legislation, was strongly backed by Prime Minister Cameron who said "I want Britain to be a global beacon for reform."

The UK government has already taken steps against Malawi, cutting aid by $30 million after two homosexuals who held an engagement ceremony were sentenced to 14 months hard labor. And payments could be cut further to the southern African nation, which has received $312 since 2008, if it proceeds with plans to bring in tough anti-lesbian laws.

Uganda (due to receive $109 million this year) and Ghana (due to collect $56 million) could also face sanctions if they refuse to drop antiquated anti-gay laws. The possibility that these countries will see their aid slashed seems increasingly likely as Uganda has plans to punish same-sex couples with the death penalty, while Ghana's president has promised to "check the menace of homosexuality."