You are here: HomeWebbersOpinionsArticles2013 03 18Article 268024

Opinions of Monday, 18 March 2013

Columnist: Tawiah, Francis

How Many Gays Do We Have In The Parliament?

Do We Have A Gay President In Ghana... Besides How Many Gays Do We Have In The Parliament?

Gay-ism was a top agenda in the parliamentary debate on the 2013 budget statement of the government on Thursday in Accra.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Mampong, Francis Addai-Nimoh, said President John Mahama was his mentor when he told the Speaker of Parliament that he loved him so much for making a ?favourable? ruling on a point of order raised by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Nanton, Murtala Mohammed. An ambiguous omen and a statement which could described as personal affection.

But when Francis Addai-Nimoh was asked what he meant by making the president his mentor, in the case of loving the Speaker of Parliament so much, he answered again, he was taking a cue from the president.

As soon as the MP for Mampong, Francis Addai-Nimoh expressed his deep feeling for the speaker, ("I love you so much") the Majority Chief and NDC MP (for Bodi), Sampson Ahi, got up and asked Hon Francis Addai-Nimoh to clarify his statement of "loving the speaker so much" since he (the speaker) is a male, because in these days of gay-ism in Ghana some people might misconstrue his statement to mean the President is a gay.

In another answer to Mr Ahi, the Mampong MP said again, ?Mr Speaker, this was on a lighter note but if Hon Ahi wants me to explain then probably I was taking a cue from the President?.

This statement instantly swept almost all the majority members to their feet who either wanted to reply the Mampong MP or seek further clarification from him but the Deputy Speaker of Parliament said the Mampong MP had gone ?far? and must therefore withdraw his statement and apologise to the President for the reference he made to him (president).

The question is, why the NPP MP took a cue from the PRESIDENT, having claimed to love the Speaker so much! However, Hon Addai-Nimoh consequently did withdraw his statement before calm was restored to the House.

Another side of the case and a point that critically tackles my mind is, why was the NDC MP (for Bodi), SAMPSON AHI, too so much concerned about the so-claimed gay-ism statement made by Francis Addai-Nimoh.

ARE THERE REALLY GAYS IN THE PARLIAMENT, IF YES WHO ARE THOSE GAYS?

FRANCIS TAWIAH (Duisburg - Germany)