Prime Minister David Cameron
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31st October, 2011
LEAVE AFRICA ALONE!
ONCE again. the issue of homosexuality, like a piece of meat, is on the table for thorough discussions. And as is very common with Ghanaians, it may take several days to fizzle out and possibly resurrect in the future.
The latest discussion on our airwaves and newspapers is the threat by the United Kingdom to withhold aid from governments which do not reform legislations banning homosexuality.
Prime Minister David Cameron raised the issue with some of the states involved at the just-ended Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia that those receiving UK aid should “adhere to proper human rights”.
Ending the ban on homosexuality was one of the recommendations of an internal report into the future relevance of the Commonwealth.
Mr. Cameron said he had spoken with “a number of African countries,” and that more pressure had been applied by Foreign Secretary William Hague, who deputised for him, during some sessions of the summit.
Looking at the issue at stake, it appears that the United Kingdom’s focus is on the African continent, whose countries depend heavily on foreign aid from Britain, to develop their economies.
It is time African countries extricated themselves from the obnoxious policies of multi-lateral and bilateral organisations, as well as the Bretton Woods institutions, just because they depend on them to develop their economies.
Our quest for economic development is now greater than ever, and it is evident that the best way forward is a united and integrated agenda.
For far too long, we have wasted time and resources on wars and conflicts, the very things that drive away investments.
Another huge problem confronting the continent, is corruption which has gained deep roots in all fabrics of social and economic endeavours.
What is needed is for African leaders to play their parts to ensure that the necessary atmosphere is created for direct investments, with which to build their economies.
African countries must take the courage to wean themselves off foreign aids with their attendant harsh conditionaliies.
We in Ghana must take this decision by the UK government very serious because of both social and economic implications.
Section 104 of the Criminal Code 1960, Act 29 (1b) states; Whoever has unnatural carnal knowledge of any person of 16 years or above with consent, is guilty of misdemeanour.
Therefore, the practice cannot be an individual or personal affair, as being argued by some human rights advocates.
The practice is alien to the Ghanaian whose values, beliefs, attitudes, way of life and thought, dinguishes him/her from others.
No wonder, some of the Christian and Muslim heads in the country have condemned the practice, and asked other like-minded Ghanaians to join hands with them, to condemn it.
The latest discussion on our airwaves and newspapers is the threat by the United Kingdom to withhold aid from governments which do not reform legislations banning homosexuality.
Prime Minister David Cameron raised the issue with some of the states involved at the just-ended Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia that those receiving UK aid should “adhere to proper human rights”.
Ending the ban on homosexuality was one of the recommendations of an internal report into the future relevance of the Commonwealth.
Mr. Cameron said he had spoken with “a number of African countries,” and that more pressure had been applied by Foreign Secretary William Hague, who deputised for him, during some sessions of the summit.
Looking at the issue at stake, it appears that the United Kingdom’s focus is on the African continent, whose countries depend heavily on foreign aid from Britain, to develop their economies.
It is time African countries extricated themselves from the obnoxious policies of multi-lateral and bilateral organisations, as well as the Bretton Woods institutions, just because they depend on them to develop their economies.
Our quest for economic development is now greater than ever, and it is evident that the best way forward is a united and integrated agenda.
For far too long, we have wasted time and resources on wars and conflicts, the very things that drive away investments.
Another huge problem confronting the continent, is corruption which has gained deep roots in all fabrics of social and economic endeavours.
What is needed is for African leaders to play their parts to ensure that the necessary atmosphere is created for direct investments, with which to build their economies.
African countries must take the courage to wean themselves off foreign aids with their attendant harsh conditionaliies.
We in Ghana must take this decision by the UK government very serious because of both social and economic implications.
Section 104 of the Criminal Code 1960, Act 29 (1b) states; Whoever has unnatural carnal knowledge of any person of 16 years or above with consent, is guilty of misdemeanour.
Therefore, the practice cannot be an individual or personal affair, as being argued by some human rights advocates.
The practice is alien to the Ghanaian whose values, beliefs, attitudes, way of life and thought, dinguishes him/her from others.
No wonder, some of the Christian and Muslim heads in the country have condemned the practice, and asked other like-minded Ghanaians to join hands with them, to condemn it.
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