Nana Oye Lithur
A group calling itself Concerned Clergymen maintains that Minister-designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur is not morally qualified to hold the high office of the land.
According to the group, her philosophy about homosexuality goes contrary to Ghana’s societal norms and values, thus should be rejected by parliament.
The Concerned Clergymen who petitioned Parliament’s Appointments Committee against her nomination says they are not convinced about the answers Nana Oye Lithur gave about her position on homosexuality during her vetting Wednesday.
In an apparent response to critics who have condemned her about her public views about gays and lesbians; Oye Lithur said her position has been misconstrued.
She explained that she will not promote homosexuality but will protect the rights of every individual irrespective of the person’s sexual orientation since the 1992 Constitution guarantees the fundamental human rights of every individual.
But on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Thursday, spokesperson for the clergymen, Bishop Prince Benny Wood said they cannot trust Nana Oye Lithur to hold such a sensitive position as the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
He indicated that the Minister-designate has demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that she [Nana Oye] cannot defend Ghana at the international level.
“Nana Oye has not convinced us; she is not a patriotic citizen. We need better people with better morals to build a Better Ghana” he added.
The clergyman believes Nana Oye Lithur if approved cannot protect “our fragile children” from engaging in the immoral act.
“Some of these human rights advocates they don’t speak out of love; they speak out of passion and pride” he opined.
Bishop Benny Wood said the public reaction to Oye Lithur’s conduct is an attestation that the issue about homosexuality in Ghana is non-negotiable.