The Executive Director of the Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability (ACILA), William Nyarko, has disclosed that a survey conducted by the organization has revealed that 87 per cent of the Ghanaian population is vehemently against the activities of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT).
The survey took place in five regions in the country namely Greater Accra, Ashanti, Volta, Northern and Western.
The survey also interviewed Ghanaians between the ages of 18 and 30 years and a total of 1,200 people were interviewed out of which 87 per cent violently resisted LGBT.
According to the survey, eight out of 10 Ghanaians do not approve of the activities of LGBTs.
A greater percentage of the Ghanaian populace has expressed their displeasure at the activities of lesbians, gays and bisexuals in the country.
It would be recalled that during an interview session with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, he said “the legalization of the activities of LGBTs is bound to happen over time, although it will not happen under my watch”.
The President indicated that the laws and traditions of the land are against such activities but the protection of individuals involved in the act would be ensured because it’s their constitutional right.
In an exclusive interview with DAILY GUIDE, ACILA Executive Director, William Nyarko, said the survey conducted by the organization appears that the missing key is the lack of clarity between the acts and rights of individuals involved in such acts.
At an editors’ encounter in Tamale, he stated that persons involved in LGBT are very much aware that the customs, traditions and laws of the country are against their activities.
According to him, the barbaric nature of some Ghanaians against LGBTs, where such individuals are manhandled, beaten and in some cases lynched is not right.
William Nyarko explained that Ghana accepted recommendation at the United Nations (UN) to provide equal protection of the law from violence against LGBTs.
“Ghana rejected recommendations to legalize same sex marriage; Ghana also rejected recommendation to decriminalize consensual sex which relates to section 104 of Ghana’s criminal code which criminalizes unnatural carnal knowledge but Ghana accepted recommendation to provide equal protection of the law from violence against LGBT’s,” he added.
FROM Eric Kombat, Tamale