General News of Saturday, 27 July 2013

Source: XYZ

Antwi-Danso: Ghana’s laws must clearly forbid gay marriage

International Relations Expert, Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso says Ghana needs clear laws on what constitutes legal marriage.



Dr. Antwi-Danso says the lack of clear cut laws on what marriage is in Ghana could create confusion as far as issues of same sex unions are concerned.



He wonders why Ghana has not followed the examples of countries whose laws clearly define whether gay marriage is permitted or not.



“We must clearly state what marriage is and if gay marriage is not part of it then the gays cannot marry”, he told Radio XYZ’s daily news magazine programme ‘strict proof’ on Friday July 26, 2013.



Dr. Antwi-Danso’s comments come on the heels of a debate on gay unions sparked by a UN campaign toward getting countries to decriminalise gay, lesbian, transgender and transsexual partnerships and sexual orientation across the world.



The world body launched the Free & Equal campaign on Friday.



It is an unprecedented effort by the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights to change public attitudes around the world on issues that have bitterly divided the U.N.'s own member states.



The multi-pronged campaign — announced at a news conference in Cape Town, South Africa — will include videos and public-service announcements distributed through social media, a new website, a series of fact sheets, and engagement by celebrities well-known in different regions of the world.



However, the international relations expert says Ghana must resist any attempt by the UN to foist alien and abhorrent cultures on the West African country.



“…Why are they forcing it on us everywhere?” He queried.



He said the government must make sure the laws are unambiguous on homosexuality.



Ghana’s criminal code is grey on homosexuality, but defines as criminal, “unnatural carnal knowledge” which has often sparked a debate of interpretations as to whether that law applies to gay unions or not.





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