Arthur Kennedy writes to Theresa May
1st May 2018
Noted NPP scholar Arthur Kennedy has written to the UK Prime Minister Theresa May challenging her assertion that former British colonies should decriminalize the practice of homosexuality, which is widely derided in Africa.
May’s comments have sparked a furore among both the Ghanaian public and politicians with everyone rushing to show exactly how anti gay they are.
NPP politician Arthur Kennedy has also given his take on the saga, coming at it from a different angle.
According to him, the UK doesn’t have to worry about homosexuals in Ghana but if they want to do something to help us, they can fund free SHS for five years or help rid Accra of filth.
He put his concerns in an open letter.
READ…
Madam Prime Minister,
RE: GAY RIGHTS IN GHANA
Like others in your former colonies, we in Ghana heard your apologies for the anti-gay laws you left on our books.
I will address the substance of your remarks with respect to Ghana but let me make two quick points. First, thanks for the example of your apology. It is refreshing because, in Africa, our big men don’t apologize. In Africa, when a big man offends you, you apologize!
Second, if half a century after independence, a former colony has not gotten around to removing a bad law, they are fully responsible for that law; you don’t need to apologize for it.
Madam Prime Minister, you promised to help Ghana pass laws that would protect gays. That would not be necessary. All the anti-gay laws on our books before the promulgation of the 1992 constitution– including the Criminal Offenses Act of 1960–are trumped by the strong Fundamental rights and anti-discrimination provisions contained in Chapter 5 of the Constitution.
Our President, who is a noted Human Rights Attorney could have told you that but he probably wanted to be chivalrous as African gentlemen are wont to be.
It would seem, Madam, that your apology should have been directed homeward to your citizens. It took the United Kingdom until 2007 to pass a law banning discrimination on the basis of s*xual orientation. Indeed, Madam, you have work to do to make the United Kingdom a safe place for gay people. As recently as 2016, only 64% of your citizens approved of homos*xual partnerships. Respectfully, should charity not begin at home on this issue?
Finally, since you are inclined to offer help, here are a few things you can do that would endear you to Ghanaians and our President:
Sponsor our free SHS program for the next 5 years!
Support the construction of a garbage treatment plant that would rid Accra of filth!
Help get the University of Ghana Teaching Hospital up and running!
Madam, you know the President will not ask for these things because of his “Ghana Beyond Aid” obsession — but he and Ghanaians will appreciate it.
Best wishes to Jeremy Corbin.
Sincerely,