NPP deflates Cameron, backs gov't on gay

NPP General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has defended government's stance on gays and has urged it “to stand firm in the face of such unacceptable offence against our sovereignty”.

A statement signed by the party's General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, and issued on Friday reaffirmed that the issue of homosexuality “is not a matter foreign governments can decide for us”.

Below is the full statement:
MR DAVID CAMERONS STATEMENTS ON HOMOSEXUAL RIGHTS

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has observed with satisfaction the widespread condemnations that have greeted the unfortunate statements of Mr David Cameron, the prime minister of the United Kingdom. In every respect, the prime minister's statements were in bad taste.

Mr Cameron and the United Kingdom reserve the right to make strategic foreign assistance decisions. Those foreign policy decisions serve the interests of the United Kingdom. They are not designed to serve the interest of Ghana. Therefore what Mr. Cameron should not attempt to do is to coerce Ghana into compromising our cultural norms and laws for the purpose of advancing UK's foreign policy objectives.

The clarification by Downing Street that the prime minister's statement “was in the context of British foreign policy to promote human rights around the world” is does not also help the matter.

Ghanaians are capable of discussing the subject of homosexuality and taking the necessary steps to uphold our laws, to preserve our cultural values and protect the human rights of all our citizens. It is not a matter foreign governments can decide for us.

The New Patriotic Party urges government to stand firm in the face of such unacceptable offence against our sovereignty.

signed
Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie
General Secretary

Story by Ghana/Myjoyonline.com