The Minister of Culture and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Alexander Asum-Ahensah, has stated that the Government will not legalise the practice of homosexuality and lesbianism in the country.
He said the government would not encourage anything that went against the culture of the country and cautioned homosexuals and lesbians to stop the practice.
Mr Asum-Ahensah stated this at a durbar to mark the celebration of Odambea Festival by the people of the Nkusukum Traditional Area at Saltpond at the weekend.
The theme for the festival was, “Promoting Our Cultural Heritage to Eradicate Social Vices.”
He said the theme was very appropriate, considering the prevailing moral decline in the Ghanaian society today.
He said, “It is often said that when people lose their culture they lose their identity.
“Our moral values are greatly threatened by our desperate pursuit of materialism as a measure of progress in society, as caution is thrown to the wind, as we go to great length to do anything to achieve and satisfy” these wanton desires, he added.
He said drug abuse, armed robbery, child prostitution, homosexuality, lesbianism as well as rape, defilement and other sex-related crimes were on the increase, attesting to the high rate of immorality prevalent in the society.
He called on Nananom, as custodians of the nation’s rich cultural values, to work closely with other opinion leaders in their traditional areas and partner the state institutions responsible for youth development to evolve strategies to address those social vices in the society.
He urged them to discard any form of obsolete and dehumanising customary practices, which were inimical to the fundamental human rights and self development of the people.
He further urged the people to use the festival to forge unity and to ensure the peace and development of the area.
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa Doe, appealed to the Regional House of Chiefs to expedite action on chieftaincy cases pending before the House to ensure peace and rapid development.
The Member of Parliament for Mfantseman West and Deputy Minister for Local government and rural Development, Mr Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, urged the people to bury their political differences and unite to develop the area.
He said plans were afoot to construct a modern mortuary for the Saltpond Municipal Hospital and the reconstruction of the Victoria Park, a durbar ground at Saltpond.
The Mfantseman Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Henry Kweku Hayfron, noted that one cultural heritage which was fading out gradually in the area was environmental cleanliness.
He said keeping one’s surroundings clean prevented diseases which could drain scarce resources and appealed to the people to be serious with sanitation.
The Secretary to Saltpond Federation of Youth Associations, Mr Emmanuel Eshun, urged the youth to desist from unproductive demonstrations, but to channel their energies into productive activities which could benefit the nation and themselves.
He appealed to the traditional council to establish an Education Endowment Fund to support brilliant, needy children to further their education.
The Acting President of the Traditional Council, Nana Kwesi Brebo III, in it welcome address, appealed to the Government to complete the abandoned Police headquarters and barracks at Saltpond and Mankessim to accommodate more police personnel to protect the people.
He appealed for the expansion of the municipal hospital and provision for nurses’ quarters. He presented assorted drinks and a cash of GH¢2,000.00 to the festival planning committee to meet their expenses.