Jamal dares Nana Addo to reply Cameron

A deputy Information Minister Baba Jamal is daring the leader of the opposition New Patriotic Party Nana Akufo-Addo to make his position clear on a controversial comment made by the British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Cameron threatened to withhold aid to African countries which fails to respect the rights of gays and lesbians in their countries.

His threats have provoked angry responses from Ghanaians particularly from the religious groups, civil societies and politicians.

On Wednesday President John Mills added his voice to the groundswell of criticisms, saying Ghana is a sovereign country and cannot be dictated to by anybody.

He said he as president will never preside over a country which will legalise homosexuality.

Mills’ pronouncement has been welcomed by many in the country.

His deputy Information Minister Baba Jamal insists the time has come for the opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo to come out and be heard.

He told Myjoyonline.com Nana Addo has expressed his opinion on virtually all topical issue in the country and must be heard on this one.

Asked whether it was necessary for Nana Addo to be heard at all, Jamal retorted, a whole UK Prime Minister threatening and blackmailing Africans and you don’t think the leader of the opposition party must be heard?

He said it is for Ghanaians to judge if Nana Addo remains dumb on the matter.

But a member of the communications team of the NPP said Nana Addo cannot be pressured into making a public statement on any issue.

Abu Jinapor told Joy News’ Dzifa Bampoh that Nana Addo speaks when he feels like and when it is necessary.

He doesn’t speak on an issue because the President has spoken or because Baba Jamal wants him to speak, he added.

He said when David Cameron made his comments; the second deputy Speaker and NPP Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Mike Ocquaye was one of the first politicians to speak on the matter.

Several others have subsequently spoken on it, he stated, adding Nana Addo is under no pressure at all to comment on the matter.

He said Baba Jamal’s statement have the tendency of politicizing an issue which clearly ought to be considered a national issue.

“For once as a people we must see certain things as national issues. Mills did not speak as leader of the NDC but as president of Ghana," he noted.