he traditional ruler of the Dormaa Traditional Area and President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II, reflected on his memories of the late President John Evans Atta Mills.
During the 10th Atta Mills Anniversary Lecture held recently, Agyemang Badu II paid tribute to Mills and specifically recalled his firm stance on the issue of same-sex relationships during his presidency.
The Dormaahene emphasized the importance for politicians to draw lessons from Mills’ exemplary conduct and leadership style while serving as the Head of State.
“I remember when there was this debate, very strong at the time about LGBTQ (an it’s being added on) and he was asked his views on it and he was emphatic.
“Because he needed help from any powers, he will not kowtow, so that LGBTQ will be passed, this is the man that we are talking about today,” he stressed.
In recent years, the topic of LGBTQ rights has gained significant attention, and the issue of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) individuals has become a matter of great importance. Currently, the Parliament is deliberating on legislation aimed at addressing this matter.
What did Mills say about it?
For John Evans Atta Mills, his was an emphatic “No” statement on the subject of LGBTQ+.
In an interaction with the media during his presidency, and in reaction to comments by the then British Prime Minister David Cameron that the UK may consider cutting aid to Ghana should the country not legalize gay rights, the late former president was forthright, ruling out any possibility of the legalization of same.
He added that Cameron was entitled to opinions, stressing that laws must take into account the cultures and histories of a given people.
“Let me make one thing very clear: no one can deny Prime Minister Cameron his right to make policies, take initiatives or make statements that reflect his societal norms and ideals but he does not have the right to direct other sovereign nations as to what they should do especially when their societal norms and ideals are different from those which exist in Prime Minister Cameron’s society.
“I, as president of this nation, will never initiate or support any attempts to legalize homosexuality in Ghana. As a government, we will adhere by the principles enshrined in our constitution which is supreme.
“Let me also say, that while we acknowledge all the financial assistance and all the aid which have been given to us by our development partners, we will not accept any aid with strings attached if that aid will not inure to our interest or the implementation of the utilization of that aid with strings attached would rather worsen our plight as a nation, or, destroy the very society we want to use the money to improve,” he said.