So who allowed the LGBTQs office space in Ghana?

The LGBTQ movement is setting Ghana on the edge. The Catholic Bishop’s Conference is calling the President of the Republic to declare Ghana’s stance on the issue.

Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches are blunt on the subject: We don’t need any such movement in Ghana. And for the Muslim sect, it’s simply not a subject to waste precious time and energy on, because homosexuality is against their Holy Koran.

To the Traditional Religious groups which draw a lot of their teachings from traditional values and norms, Gay, Lesbianism and all of its other related groups are anachronistic to the sanctity of the Ghanaian customary values and senses.

The larger Ghanaian society which is the aggregate components of all Ghanaian communities or societal set-ups abhor the practice. Civil Society groups like Lawyer Moses Foh Amoaning’s National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values, has even gone to the extent of calling for the shut-down of the LGBTQ office in Accra.

The Coalition believe the presence of LGBTQ in Ghana undermines the cultural values and norms of the country; aside their over-stated fact that the group and their activities are barred from operating in Ghana under article 104 of the country’s criminal code.

The last time President Akufo Addo spoke on the subject in the international media, he made it clear that so far as there is no swelling ground of movement or agitation from people or groups to legalize Gay and Lesbianism in Ghana, there would be no need at all to consider the legality of the practice.

The position of the Ghanaian President on the subject was thus unequivocal: No legalization of Homosexuality in Ghana. Ghanaian laws prohibit the practice. But what has changed since the President’s interview some two years ago to warrant open display of LGBTQ practice and rights in the country? The group has opened its office at Tesano in Accra.

It was publicly commissioned with all the pomp and pageantry with top diplomats from the European Union and other Western countries attending. And who allowed them the office space?

Is the President aware that Gay and Lesbians are now parading openly in the Ghanaian public space? If not, didn’t any of his staffers tell him about the belligerent position of his two lady ministers designate on the subject?

Except a few and minority voices who sparingly try to pin the issue on liberties and rights of the LGBTQ practitioners, overwhelming number of Ghanaians, including political stakeholders are vehemently in disagreement with the opening of the LGBTQ office at Tesano, a suburb of Accra.

A human rights lawyer, Joyce Opoku Boateng, argued last week that it would be illegal for any group or individuals to shut or break down the office of the LGBTQs because that would be tantamount to illegal invasion of the privacy of the LGBT people. It was her express opinion that the LGBTQ people also have rights that ought to be respected.

“I don’t think it will be right for anyone to invade their office and attack them because they have not met to engage in any sexual activities…Every human being when you’re born, has a fundamental right that no one can take away from you”, she told the media.

Two lady Ministers designate have made it clear that Ghanaian laws are fundamentally against LGBTQs. The law therefore, as the two interpreted, does not absolve LBGTQ people with a stated intention of engaging in unnatural canal knowledge of another person.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs designate, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey told the Parliamentary Vetting Committee that Gay and Lesbianism is still illegal in Ghana, although she acknowledged the importance of Ghana’s bilateral partners, most of who are pushing for a global LGBTQ rights.

The practice is not only against Ghanaian laws, Hon. Ayorkor Botchwey also believes, LGBTQ is un-Ghanaian; meaning the practice is against the cultural norms and values of the Country.

The Minister designate for Gender, Children & Social Protection, Sarah Adwoa Safo, was more forceful and definite on the subject. This is what she told the Parliamentary Vetting committee:

“LGBTQ’s criminality is non-negotiable. LGBT is an issue that when mentioned, it creates some controversy; but what I want to say is that our laws are clear on such practice. It makes it criminal….

…Section 104 of the Criminal Code prohibits one from having unnatural carnal knowledge with another person. So on the issue of its criminality, it is non-negotiable”.

She further stated: “On the issue of our cultural acceptance and norms, these practices are frowned upon. So for me, these are distinct clarities on the matter and that is what I strongly stand for”.