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Ghana Bans Int'l Gay
Conference
01 Sept 2006-
Accra- The government of Ghana has banned an international LGBT civil
rights conference that was to have taken place in the small African
country later this month.
Information
Minister Kwamena Bartels said Friday that under Ghana's laws against
homosexuality any gathering of gays and lesbians was illegal.
Homosexuality
is punishable by imprisonment.
"Unnatural
carnal knowledge is illegal under our criminal code. Homosexuality,
lesbianism and bestiality are therefore offences under the laws of
Ghana," Bartels said in a statement to the Ghana News Agency.
Bartels said
that the government became aware of the conference, reportedly organized
by local gays and which was to have included people from throughout
Africa, when clergy brought it to his attention.
Bartels said
that government officials who gave preliminary approval for the meeting
would be investigated to see if they broke any laws.
Even by
condoning a gathering of gays would be illegal he said.
"[The]
Government does not condone any such activity which violently offends
the culture, morality and heritage of the entire people of Ghana,"
Bartels told he the Ghana News Agency.
"[We] would
like to make it absolutely clear that it shall not permit the proposed
conference anywhere in Ghana."
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