Presby Moderator: Nana Oye Lithur Is A Coward

Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Right Reverend Professor Emmanuel Martey has admonished Nana Oye Lithur to boldly defend her stance on the issue of homosexuality. He described Nana Oye Lithur as a "coward" for being evasive during her vetting before the Appointments Committee of Parliament. "Nana Oye Lithur was a coward. She should have come out boldly", Reverend Martey asserted. He explained that gay acts are a "breach of common sense" and therefore contravene the laws of the nation. According to him, "even animals don't do what homosexuals do", so it is disgraceful for Nana Oye Lithur to support the rights of homosexuals in the country. He stated without mincing words that he will not trust "such person (Nana Oye Lithur) to be my leader." To him, Nana Oye Lithur's position on homosexuality does not give protection to children in the country and the society. He further said her responses to the barrage of questions during the vetting yesterday pose danger to the economy, stressing that her utterances in the past reveal the true character of the human rights advocate. Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Thursday, the Moderator said that homosexuality, which he accused Nana Oye Lithur of promoting in the past, is morally wrong and its acceptance must not be entertained. Minister-designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur appeared before the Appointments Committee on Wednesday for vetting. She was queried for long hours about her real stance on the issue of homosexuality in Ghana. She was quoted to have said that irrespective of the late President John Evans Atta Mills' abhorrence of homosexuality, the rights of gays should be protected since they do not infringe on any person's fundamental rights. But her critics have fired salvos at her for uttering such words and therefore asked President John Mahama to review her appointment. Nonetheless, the undaunted Gender activist stood to her grounds and made it clear before the Appointments Committee that she will protect the rights of every Ghanaian including homosexuals. This seems not to have simmered down with the Moderator of the Presbyterian church, who has raised doubts about the character of Nana Oye Lithur. He urged her to come out to defend her previous comments in order to prove how audacious she is on the matter. It appears the issue about whether the rights of homosexuals should be legitimized or not may not sooner or later die out as several civil organizations and persons have registered their disgust at any utterances that tend to support gay rights. The civil societies have vehemently condemned acts by gays and lesbians in the country, claiming that a legitimization of their rights may corrupt the integrity of the nation. Paramount among the critics are some members of the Clergy Association. Recently, a group calling itself the Concerned Clergy Association of Ghana condemned Nana Oye Lithur, a human rights activist, for supporting the rights of gays. The group argued her stance may be detrimental to the nation, hence making the country susceptible to foreign countries who have legalized gay rights.     Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana