Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com
By William Yaw Owusu
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Dr. Edward Nasigre Mahama, flagbearer of the People’s National
Convention (PNC), does not think he can ban people from practising
homosexuality if he gets the mandate as the President of Ghana in the November
general election saying, “I love them.”
As a medical doctor, Dr. Mahama considers the practice of lesbianism
or gayism unhealthy but wants the public to accept their sexual preferences.
“I tell lesbians and gays who come to me that it is not a very healthy
sexual practice. If you enjoy it, do it, but you are taking the risk,” he said
Tuesday night when he took his turn at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA)
‘Encounter’ programme, which gives presidential candidates the platform to sell
their visions to the public.
Dr. Mahama, who is going to try his luck to become president in the
November general election after five unsuccessful attempts from 1996, could not
give a definite yes or no answer when he was asked about his views on the
practice - which is largely considered as a taboo in many parts of the country.
Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi, General Secretary for the Ghana
Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, asked Dr. Mahama about his views on the
rights of homosexuals in the country.
“As a Christian, I think homosexuality is condemned by the Bible;
but I think also as a Christian, Christ said we should love our neighbour as we
love ourselves so I love them,” Dr. Mahama, who endeared himself creditably to
the audience on the night, replied.
He said, “I may disagree with them and their lifestyle. I have a
very close friend whose son was a homosexual and I always looked at him and
loved him inside me; but the fact that he was doing the wrong thing for
himself,” adding, “As you know, being a pastor, Paul says that when we commit
sexual sin, it’s against our own body first. There are scientific basis which
others may disagree to. So basically, it is not a very healthy sexual practice.
“What I am saying is that, it’s their right to do what they like
with their body but I don’t endorse; it and I think it’s wrong which is why I
educate them. And that’s all I can do because I am not going to think for
somebody.”
Outlining his vision on the PNC’s campaign theme of “New Beginning,
New Deal and New Force,” Dr. Mahama said that he would take personal
responsibility for any shortcomings of his government.
“We have a system where those who loot are held in high esteem. A
former Prime Minister of Latvia resigned when the roof of a supermarket
collapsed, killing 54 people. He said he took political and moral
responsibility for the disaster. In Germany, Christian Wulf resigned from high
office of president in 2009, put on trial for corruption because his friend was
alleged to have paid for his hotel room and his food valued at 700 euros. In
the United States of America, President Nixon stepped aside from high office of
US President after the Watergate scandal. It is this kind of taking personal
responsibility and abhorring wrongdoing that I am offering myself as President
of Ghana,” he promised.
He touched on all the critical sectors of the economy, particularly
energy, where he said he would disable the influences of Bulk Distribution
Companies who are operating in the petroleum downstream sector.
He described the measures put in place by the Mahama-led National
Democratic Congress (NDC) administration to solve the protracted power crisis
as ‘kneejerk’ solutions claiming, “The power barges were expensive and
dubiously acquired.”
Dr. Mahama also said that it was unwise for the Ghana National
Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to fund the senior national soccer team - the
Black Stars - when there were other critical areas the corporation could
invest.
On the issue of corruption, Dr. Mahama said he did not need any
report to determine that Ghana has become worse, saying “Ghana is one of the
most corrupt and wasteful nation.”
He said as part of the measures to fight corruption, a PNC
government would seperate the office of the Attorney General from the Minister
of Justice and make the AG the Head of Public Prosecutions, resource all anti-corruption
bodies to fight the menace.
“PNC will mandate all public service officers to fully declare and
publish their assets. We’ll also ensure that directors of State Owned
Enterprises will be criminally prosecuted for financial malfeasance,” he assured.
He said a PNC government would restructure the public sector to
ensure that it becomes results-based.
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