THE Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Prof Emmanuel Martey deplores “exaggerations, scandal-mongering and sensationalism” – but has no qualms about using despicable lies and superstition claptrap to attack gay people.

THE Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Prof Emmanuel Martey deplores “exaggerations, scandal-mongering and sensationalism” – but has no qualms about using despicable lies and superstition claptrap to attack gay people.

Martey was expressing his dislike of “unprofessional” journalism when he spoke at the Osu Presbyterian Church on Sunday to mark the 31st anniversary of the extra-judicial killing of three High Court Judges and a retired army officer by the Rawlings-led Provincial National Defence Council military junta on June 30, 1982.

He likened those who engage in “yellow” journalism to “murderers”.

Yet he used the very same occasion to to claim that that gays are plotting to have the country “destroyed” by infiltrating its government.

According to this report, the fool “explained” that:

This is the reason why acclaimed and notorious homosexuals want to attach themselves to Ghana’s presidency to gain access.

He added:

All homosexuals want to meet in Ghana because of the country’s uniqueness.

And he warned that that Ghana must not tolerate the ‘satanic practice’ in any form or nuance, and urged all Ghanaian leaders to “wake up” and take a stand against it.

Gay rights has been used as a political weapon in Ghana in the past few years and a method to attract more religious followers, according to local activists.

Within the political arena, President John Mahama was strongly criticized by leading opposition figures for nominating human rights advocate Nana Oye Lithur as Minister of Gender, Children and Social protection.

The two were being blamed for promoting LGBT rights and planning to decriminalise same-sex acts in Ghana with the help of a “gay lobby”.

Lithur and Mahama became the focus of a smear campaign by the opposition National Patriotic Party and religious leaders.

As “evidence” of the “gay lobby”, Ghana’s opposition party alleged that renowned gay rights advocate Andrew Solomon met President Mahama following the circulation of a picture of the two at the latter’s book launch My first coup d’etat in New York.

Last year Ghana’s vice president, Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur also faced widespread allegations that he is gay.

These extensive anti-gay hate campaigns have incited homophobia in Ghana, recently leading Ghanaian high schools kicked out pupils, claiming they were “recruiting” others into being gay.

In 2012 the outgoing US ambassador to Ghana spoke out against homophobia and urged leaders to have an open and respectful dialogue on LGBT rights.

Under Ghanaian law, male same-sex sexual activity is illegal. Gay men can also be punished under provisions concerning assault and rape.

The US Department of State’s 2010 Human Rights Report revealed widespread and deeply held homophobic views.

It stated:

LGBT persons faced widespread discrimination, as well as police harassment and extortion attempts. Gay men in prison often were subjected to sexual and other physical abuse.