News:
February 4, 2013
Government has made a volte-face as it has changed its position on the President’s relationship with acclaimed gay rights activist Andrew Solomon.
In a statement signed by the Minister for Information, Mahama Ayariga said “our then Vice President had a prior meeting with Andrew Solomon in furtherance of the former’s book writing project before the book launch event at which Andrew Solomon acted as a moderator.”
Mr. Ayariga had earlier denied President Mahama’s association with Mr. Solomon following publc criticism and condemnation over the nomination of Nana Oye Lithur as Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection who is a known gay right advocate.
Below is the full statement signed by Minister for Information, Mahama Ayaiga
The Government has noted some concern in the public mind about the Ministry of Gender, children and Social Protection and the President’s appointment of Nana Oye Lithur, a known human rights activist as Minister designate for the Ministry.
The Government wishes to point out that the Ministry has been created to coordinate and better implement social intervention programs aimed as safety nets for the poor and vulnerable in our society.
The Ministry would be required to compile a database and track the effect of government’s social intervention programs on these segments of our society.
The Ministry would have oversight of the Social Welfare Department, Disability Council, the LEAP Program and such other social intervention programs that are aimed at an equitable distribution of national wealth.
In Ghana, Human rights are mainstreamed and are the business of every ministry, department, agency or institution.
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has not been created as a specific Ministry for the defence or protection of any rights.
The President’s appointment of Nana Oye Lithur is based purely on her competence and experience.
Nana Oye in her work as a lawyer and with the Commonwealth Human Rights Institute (CHRI) has vast expertise in working with this segment of our society.
In her work, as would be the work of other ministers, she will implement government policy as formulated by the Constitution, Cabinet, Parliament or any other such authorized institution. Government has no policy to promote homosexualism in Ghana.
I briefed the media during the week on the matter of the relationship between Andrew Solomon, an acclaimed author in the United States of America, and His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama.
I denied any prior close relationship between the two of them. Subsequently it has come to my knowledge that this is not entirely accurate.
In keeping with my commitment to provide accurate and reliable information about Government and the Presidency to the public, let me affirm that our then Vice President had a prior meeting with Andrew Solomon in furtherance of the former’s book writing project before the book launch event at which Andrew Solomon acted as a moderator.
I however reiterated that Andrew Solomon’s relationship with the then Vice President John Dramani Mahama was only in furtherance of the book project which is acknowledged in the book itself. Andrew Solomon has not contributed financially or otherwise to the campaign of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the December 2012 election.
For the avoidance of doubt, I wish to state that President John Dramani Mahama does not subscribe to homosexualism and will not take any step to promote homosexualism in Ghana.
Signed
HON. MAHAMA AYARIGA (MP)
MINISTER FOR INFORMATION AND MEDIA RELATIONS