African leaders appear to have come under pressure to place gay rights on the front burner.
In recent times, almost every international journalist who gets the opportunity to speak to an African president brings the subject up.
Last week, British Prime Minister, Theresa May speaking to Commonwealth Heads in London, urged an overhaul of the “outdated” colonial-era legislation that treats more than 100 million lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people across member countries as criminals.
Four African presidents who have been asked about legalising homosexuality in their various countries during interviews with some foreign media all ruled out the possibility of accepting gay rights now.
During his interview on Aljazeera’s ‘Talk to Al Jazeera’ hosted by Jane Dutton, President Akufo-Addo noted that “At the moment, I don’t feel, I don’t see that in Ghana there is that strong current of opinion that is saying this is something we need to deal with. It is not so far a matter that is on the agenda.”
Watch CNN’s Christianne Amanpour put the question to Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta, followed by Richard Quest with Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa and then Aljazeera’s Jane Dutton with Ghana’s President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and another CNN journalist, Zain Verjee with Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni.
Source: Myjoyonline.com