Gay Ghana &Reports 2011

(Johannesburg) Antiquated laws against same-sex sexual activity as well as deeply ingrained social stigma result in the all-too-frequent targeting of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Africa for blackmail and extortion, said the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) in a report launched today.

The report, Nowhere to Turn: Blackmail and Extortion of LGBT People in Sub-Saharan Africa, illustrates how LGBT Africans are made doubly vulnerable by the criminalization of homosexuality and the often-violent stigmatization they face if their sexuality is revealed. Based on research from 2007 to the present, the volume features articles and research by leading African activists and academics on the prevalence, severity and impact of these human rights violations on LGBT people in Cameroon, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe.

"The tragic reality is that blackmail and extortion are part of the daily lives of many LGBT Africans who are isolated and made vulnerable by homophobic laws and social stigma," says IGLHRC’s Executive Director, Cary Alan Johnson. "The responsibility clearly lies with governments to address these crimes and the underlying social and legal vulnerability of LGBT people."

The report’s authors vividly depict the isolation, humiliation and manipulation to which LGBT people are subjected by blackmailers and extortionists and describe the threats of exposure, theft, assault, and rape, that can damage and even destroy the lives of victims. Vulnerability to these crimes is faced on a regular basis and families and communities are not safe havens. For example, according to research conducted in Cameroon and featured in the report, "the bulk of blackmail and extortion attempts were committed by other members of the community – 33.9% by neighbors, 11.8% by family members, 11.5% by classmates, and 14.1% by homosexual friends. Police were often complicit in this – either by ignoring or dismissing it or, in 11.5% of cases, directly perpetrating it."

Nowhere to Turn explores the role the State plays in these crimes by ignoring blackmail and extortion carried out by police and other officials by failing to prosecute blackmailers, and by charging LGBT victims under sodomy laws when they do find the courage to report blackmail to the authorities. IGLHRC urges States to take concrete steps to reduce the incidence of these crimes by decriminalizing same-sex sexual activity, educating officials and communities about blackmail laws, and ensuring that all people are able to access judicial mechanisms without prejudice.

A PDF version of Nowhere to Turn is available here. To obtain a hard copy of the volume, email

For more information, please contact:

Chivuli Ukwimi (IGLHRC, in Cape Town)
(27) 79-443-3938 – email

Jessica Stern (IGLHRC, in New York)
(+1) 212-430-6014 – email

Sam Cook (IGLHRC, in Johannesburg)
email

April 28, 2011 – African Activist

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Gay Couple Wed in Kumasi, Ghana

A gay couple, Akwasi Boakye and Kwame Amankwa, got married on Easter Sunday in Kumasi, Ghana. The wedding, attended by hundreds of members of LGBTI community, started at 10 a.m. on Sunday and lasted all night. The Tafohene, Nana Agyin Frimpong II, has banished the couple from the town. The couple has allegedly disappeared on a honeymoon to Accra. A 27-year-old man has been banished from Tafo in Kumasi for allegedly wedding a male partner on Easter Sunday. Akwasi Boakye is believed to have played the role of a woman and was wedded by his male partner, whose name was rumored as Kwame Amankwa. The wedding, according to eye witnesses, was held at the GPRTU Conference Hall in Mbrom – the same place the two had originally booked for a birthday party.

The Tafohene, Nana Agyin Frimpong II, according to reports, was highly infuriated when he got wind of the rather abominable act by the duo, and therefore decided to ostracize the ‘couple’ from the town. The decision, according to a confidante of the chief, was arrived at after Akwasi Aboagye, who is an indigene of the town, had admitted he engaged his partner in the marriage ceremony. However, as of the time of going to press yesterday, the whereabouts of the ‘couple’ were readily unknown, as speculations were rife that they had left for Accra for their honeymoon.“Boakye showed no remorse when Nana questioned him about the said marriage ceremony. He indeed confirmed it, but remained adamant and said there was no way he could abandon his lover,” the source said. “Yes I’m gay and we had the wedding. That is my choice and I don’t think anybody should have a problem with that,” Boakye is alleged to have told the chief upon interrogation.

The wedding is said to have started around 10:00 p.m., on Sunday and lasted all night long, with hundreds of gays in attendance.Sources continued that at the time Nana Frimpong was questioning Aboagye, his eye lashes, his beautiful acrylic finger nails and his make-ups were visible for everyone at the palace to see. Further information gathered indicate that a fetish priestess in the house of Akwasi prior to the wedding hand informed his parents that their son was involved in gay practice and told them to advise him (Akwasi) to desist from it. The venue that hosted the wedding is conducting an internal investigation. Officials of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Kumasi branch say they are completely dazed over reports that a gay wedding was held in its conference hall Sunday night…

Hajj Issah Clifah Principal Industrial Relations Officer of the Ashanti Regional branch of the GPRTU told Joy News they met today and have launched a full scale investigation into the matter. “We heard that last week there was a gay wedding at our premises so we became so alarmed. This afternoon, we met to discuss that issue and tomorrow we are meeting because we have instituted a full scale investigation into the matter.” He revealed that, “Another bird whispered to us that these guys are residents of a suburb around Tafo and I understand the chief there has even banished them.” Hajj Issah said they have been seeking information as to whether the incident did occur and also try to get a footage of the incident.

1 June 2011 – Joy Online

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BNI investigates homosexuality in Western, Central regions

by Adwoa Gyasiwaa – Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
BNI investigates homosexuality in Western, Central regions – The Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) has begun investigations into the growing rate of homosexuality in the Western and Central regions, Western Regional Minister, Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo has revealed. According to the minister, there is the need for a thorough investigation into what he terms a "social canker" which has contributed to the growing rate of HIV/AIDS in the country. About eight thousand homosexuals were registered by non-governmental organization (NGOs) at a day’s workshop in the Western and some parts of the Central regions after they (homosexuals) underwent voluntary counseling and testing with majority of them infected with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV/AIDS.

The workshop, which was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), aimed at training health workers to be abreast with the basic facts about HIV and AIDS also revealed that, the homosexuals included students in junior and senior high schools, polytechnics and workers. The growing rate of homosexuals in the country has resulted in the tripling of sexually transmitted diseases especially HIV and AIDS. Mr Paul Evans Aidoo revealed on Adom FM on Wednesday that, even though homosexuality is illegal, it is still widely practiced secretly which makes it very difficult to arrest the culprits. He said it is very important for the homosexuals to be identified, especially those infected with STDs to control the spread.

The Western Regional Minister added that the BNI is working closely with the police, Ghana Health Service and the NGO to find a lasting solution to the problem. Mr. Aidoo stressed the need for more education on the dangers of homosexuality in the country. But a constitutional lawyer, Yaw Anokye Frimpong argued that the BNI or the police have no right to arrest homosexuals in the country. He said even though some religion frown upon homosexuality, it is not explicitly stated in the criminal code that it is a crime.

Lawyer Anokye Frimpong argued that homosexuality is a sexual preference which no one must be discriminated upon if he or she decides to indulge in.

June 13, 2011 – African Activist

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LGBTI Persons in Ghana Have the Right to Health Care and Freedom of Association

In the middle of a flood of reporting against homosexuality in Ghana’s media, the Vice President of Ghana, H. E. John Dramani Mahama, told the UN 2011 High-Level Meeting on AIDS that MSM (men who have sex with men) must be included in Ghana’s approach to fighting HIV/AIDS. He acknowledged that "cultural hostility to this group makes it most unwilling to disclose this sexual orientation." Lawyer and former Member of Parliament John Ndebugri is challenging homosexuals in Ghana to go to the Supreme Court to enforce their right to freedom of association. The outpouring of anti-LGBTI sentiment in Ghana’s media started after the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) reported on 8,000 MSM registered at a workshop funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

In his plenary speech at the UN 2011 High-Level Meeting on AIDS, Vice President H. E. John Dramani Mahama told delegates that it was essential to include MSM in Ghana’s strategy to fight HIV/AIDS. But there are new challenges. Statistics on MSM (Men who have sex with Men) are unreliable or generally unavailable. Cultural hostility to this group makes most unwilling to disclose this sexual orientation. But rough estimates put prevalence in this group at also about 25%. This is much higher than the national average and we need to deal with it especially because it is estimated that 65% of MSM are bisexual, and could create multidirectional spread…

Let me on behalf of the government and people of Ghana thank our partners for the immense support they have extended in achieving the success we have made in rolling back the HIV/AIDS pandemic. I wish to particularly express appreciation to the Global Fund, the US government through PEPFAR, the Danish government through DANIDA and the German government through GIZ for the tremendous assistance they have extended and continue to extend to Ghana’s National Response.

You can listen to the speech at the UN 2011 High-Level Meeting on AIDS website.

With the many calls in Ghana’s media to clamp down on homosexuality, lawyer and former Member of Parliament John Ndebugri is challenging homosexuals in Ghana to go to the Supreme Court to enforce their right to freedom of association. Lawyer and former Member of Parliament for Zebila, John Ndebugri is challenging homosexuals in Ghana to go to the Supreme Court to enforce their right to freedom of association. He threw the challenge to gays and lesbians on Citi Fm’s Saturday political talk program ‘The Big Issues’. The subject of homosexuality came to the fore after news broke that some 8, 000 homosexuals had been registered in 2 regions with majority of them infected with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV/AIDS.

The worrying aspect of the report was the fact that the homosexuals registered included students in junior and senior high schools (JHS/SHS), the polytechnics and workers. Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Oquaye recently on Citi Fm, waded into the controversial subject where he called for a closure of all homosexual joints in the country intimating that the issue flies in the face of the country’s constitution. But the former Zebila MP believes homosexuals like any other person are entitled to their naturally freedoms of association and no legislation should take that away from them.

He said “let us look at the definition of homosexuality very carefully, it has to do with feeling and as far as I am concerned, feeling is natural and I do not think that we can easily legislate against people’s feelings, you can not legislate that I stop liking T.Z (tou zaafi – a local dish), I’m afraid you can’t do that. "They have rights under article 21-C of the constitution which says that ‘all persons have the right to freedom of association which shall include freedom to form or join trade unions or other associations national and international for the protection of their interest’. So those who are involved in homosexuality who think that it is right to do what they are doing come under this article. They must go to the Supreme Court to declare their rights openly and it will help us resolve this debate. It there is an international association of lesbians, they have a right to form a local branch”.

17 June 2011 – GhanaWeb

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Homosexuals could soon be lynched in Ghana – MP warns

Source: citifmonline
A senior member of Parliament has warned that the homosexual community in Ghana may soon be at the receiving end of mounting public anger in the form of physical attacks and outright death if they do not stop what he calls their evil deeds. The NDC MP for Shai Osu Doku, Hon David Tetteh Assuming, said he is disgusted at the campaigns being led by respected senior citizens seeking respect and tolerance for gay and lesbian rights. In an interview with Citi News’ Parliamentary Correspondent, Richard Sky, Hon. Assuming said homosexuals operating in the country may have to relocate outside Ghana before the growing public outrage against them degenerates into systematic moves to eliminate them one after the other.

“You cannot trace this act to any of the settings in Ghana. So this is foreign and I am I saying that Ghanaians cherish our culture a lot so for anybody to adulterate the cultural setting in Ghana as far as this act is concerned, I have the fear that people could take the law into their hands in future and deal with this people drastically. We have been seeing the situation where people take the law into their hands to lynch armed robbers. They call it mob action. And so since this has been happening and the law cannot take hold of this people, then I believe that the same thing could be directed to them". So I am sending a sign to these people that they will not have it easy in this country. They can leave here and go to other places to practice that. But in this country, I believe that they are treading on dangerous grounds and they could face lynching in future" he noted.

The Legislator said issues of human rights cannot justify the practice of homosexuality in Ghana, which he according to him, could incur the wrath of God on a “God-fearing nation” like Ghana. “Being a God-fearing nation and a God-fearing people, let us not joke with this issue and let us not talk about any issue of human rights. This is uncultured, anti-Ghanaian and if care is not taken, these people will face a very tough time in future” he noted. He said the excuse that Ghana’s laws are not very clear on what constitutes homosexuality and the sanctions that should be meted out to such offenders was a non-starter, since no law is framed in a straightjacket. “There is no law that is water-tight in this country. In every law, there could be some loopholes. But this is not the case where somebody will hide to commit this act. No matter what law we have in place, this one is an unwritten law. This act is abominable, it is not practised in Ghana and anybody who tries to introduce it in this country will not succeed. It has started in Kenya where people are being lynched”.

Hon. Assuming called on the Police to be more proactive in raiding suspected homosexual joints, believed to be dotted across the country. However, some analysts have told Citifmonline.com that Hon Assuming’s comments could generate a severe backlash from local human rights groups and their international backers, who believe homosexuality is as normal as heterosexuality. Meanwhile the Former Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Inusah Fuseini says he is surprised by the deafening silence of women groups in the face of intense public debate on whether or not Ghana should recognise gay and lesbian rights in the country.

“I believe that the male organ was created for two things: for passing urine and for releasing spermatozoa which is needed for creating. You can only engage in that activity with a woman. So I believe that a woman when married has a right to the use of the organ and must be concerned about how the organ is used because its usage has a direct bearing on her relationship and her health. So the women, who are interested in keeping their marriages and hoping to have good husbands in future, must help those who are against homosexuality because they really have an interest in the organs being in perfect order and being used for the purpose for which they were created".

"So the women should not sit aloof. They should join the men who are fighting against homosexuality because they are using the organs for inappropriate activities and this should not be allowed. I will be opposed to any move in Parliament to have this practice legitimized” he promised.

July 26, 2011 – Source Unknown
Spanish to English translation

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England asked Ghana to respect gay rights

The UK Government has called on Ghana to respect the rights of homosexuals, following the recent declaration of a Ghanaian minister ordered the arrest of gays, said the state newspaper "Daily Graphic". During a visit to Rwanda, the British Secretary of State for International Development, Stephen O’Brien, the Ghanaian authorities reminded that human rights are universal and must recognize the rights of homosexuals. O’Brien was reacting after the minister of the Western Region of Ghana, Paul Evans, asked last week to police the arrest of all homosexuals in the area of the country. The minister also urged the National Research Office of the Police Service of Ghana, landlords and tenants to provide reliable information leading to the arrest of anyone who is homosexual.

The capital of the Western Region, Takoradi, second port city in the country, has earned a reputation as a center of attraction for gays and lesbians. However, the British Secretary of State, who visited Takoradi last weekend and discussed the matter with the Ghanaian authorities, told the "Daily Graphic" strong opposition to the words of Paul Evans. "I hope that the recent comments I have heard about anti-gay feelings and park may not materialize," said the "number two" British International Development. "He insisted, is entirely appropriate that when we have universal rights, minorities should have full rights as citizens of any other country."

The minister’s comments in the Western Region are part of the campaign for elections to be held in the African country in 2012, since there has been controversy about the meaning of a clause in the penal code of the Constitution of Ghana 1992, which condemns "unnatural carnal knowledge." The Constitution guarantees human rights "regardless of race, national origin, political opinion, color, religion, creed or gender," but makes no reference to sexuality. Christian religious leaders in Ghana have adopted a tough stance on this issue and have asked the electorate to reject any politician who supports homosexuality. Also, the Muslim community has condemned homosexuality, which qualifies as "demonic." Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered are criminalized in many countries in Africa, where they are harassed socially.

1 August 2011 – IRIN PlusNews

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Analysis: Understanding the drivers of homophobia in Ghana

Dakar, (PlusNews) – Recent condemnation of homosexuality by religious and political leaders in Ghana has led to a climate of fear preventing men who have sex with men (MSM) from accessing vital health services, say local NGOs. The minister of Ghana’s Western Region, Paul Evans Aidoo, publicly described homosexuality as “detestable and abominable” after media reports in late May that 8,000 homosexuals had registered with health NGOs in the country’s west (the information appears to come from records kept by the NGOs of people who accessed services for MSM). Aidoo has since called for increased security in the region and the arrest of all homosexuals. Other religious leaders and politicians have followed suit, condemning homosexual activity.

As a result, far fewer MSM are accessing safe sex education and support programmes run by the Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights (CEPEHRG) to prevent the spread of HIV, said MacDarling Cobbinah from the Coalition against Homophobia in Ghana and a member of CEPEHRG. “It has brought about a lot of fear and stigma for the people. It is difficult to organize programmes,” Cobbinah said. “It is very difficult for people to walk freely on the street… The call for arrest has really pushed people down.” He added that one of his colleagues was recently accused of being gay and beaten up by a group of men.

Cobbinah said numbers had dropped at a regular HIV peer education programme that once had more than 20 people attending; two weeks ago only half the people came, and last week no one came, he told IRIN on 27 July. “They said, ‘If we come, we might be arrested.’” An estimated 25 percent of Ghanaian MSM were HIV-positive in 2006, according to the US Agency for International Development (USAID). According to the UN World Health Organization, since the beginning of the epidemic in the early 1980s, MSM have been disproportionately affected by HIV. The organization said social discrimination of MSM led them to delay or avoid seeking HIV-related information, care and services.

A spokesperson for the Sekondi-Takoradi NGO, who did not want his name or the organization’s name published for security reasons, said the NGO was now coming under pressure from the government to stop their work on HIV prevention if they did not reveal the names of MSM who have registered to use their services. Stopping this work would affect thousands of people. In 2008, 2,900 people accessed their services, and by this year numbers had quadrupled, the spokesperson said.

Read article

August 01, 2011 – African Activist

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Human Rights Central to Stopping the Spread of HIV in Ghana, Everywhere

After months of homophobic reporting in Ghana’s media culminating in the Western Region Minister’s threat to arrest all LGBTI persons, far fewer MSM are accessing safe sex education and support programmes. The situation in Ghana clearly demonstrates the connection between respecting the human rights of the LGBTI community and stopping the spread of HIV. The minister of Ghana’s Western Region, Paul Evans Aidoo, publicly described homosexuality as “detestable and abominable” after media reports in late May that 8,000 homosexuals had registered with health NGOs in the country’s west (the information appears to come from records kept by the NGOs of people who accessed services for MSM). Aidoo has since called for increased security in the region and the arrest of all homosexuals. Other religious leaders and politicians have followed suit, condemning homosexual activity.

Other organizations in Ghana are also facing obstacles to providing vital services. An NGO based in the Western Region’s capital Sekondi-Takoradi, which distributes condoms and safe sex information to MSM, told IRIN that since Aidoo increased security and called for arrests they have felt threatened. Male-to-male sexual relations are a crime in Ghana. Considered a misdemeanor, it carries a maximum sentence of six months, according to Kissi Agyabeng, a law lecturer at the University of Ghana. However, despite Aidoo’s calls for a crackdown, arrests do not yet appear to be taking place. A spokesperson for the Sekondi-Takoradi NGO, who did not want his name or the organization’s name published for security reasons, said the NGO was now coming under pressure from the government to stop their work on HIV prevention if they did not reveal the names of MSM who have registered to use their services.

August 10, 2011 – 365Gay.com

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Ghana church to set up centers for gay “cures”

by Jennifer Vanasco, editor in chief, 365gay.com
The Presbyterian Church of Ghana is establishing therapy centers designed to “rehabilitate” and “cure” gays and lesbians.
Right Reverend Professor Emmanuel Martey, who heads the denomination, told the Ghana News Agency that “homosexuality was spreading fast in the society” and needed to be checked.

Though gays and lesbians would face challenges, he said, they would be “cured” if they prayed regularly. Last month, a minister in Ghana’s Western Region ordered the immediate arrest of all gays and asked people to report on their neighbors. “All efforts are being made to get rid of these people in the society,” the minister said.

A virulent op-ed calling for the extermination of gays in Ghana because they prey on children quotes Michelle Bachmann and American geneticist Dean Hamer and twists the words of writer Rita Mae Brown.

25 August, 2011 – MSM Global Forum

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Out in Africa

by Lloyd Copper
Africa continues to hit the gay news headlines for all the wrong reasons. Lloyd Copper uncovers recent developments in Ghana and asks: what would we do in their place? Last month, Paul Aidoo, the Western Regional Minister in Ghana, ordered the arrest of all homosexual persons in the west of the country. He also urged landlords and tenants to dob in anyone they suspected were homosexual. Whilst sadly this story isn’t all that surprising, when you think of the African continent and LGBT rights in general, it does mean that once again, our gay brothers and sisters overseas are being targeted and need our help.

The recent trouble started when a media outlet reported there were around 8,000 homosexuals in Ghana; with a population of around 24 million, this is probably a conservative estimate. The figures were collected from non-government health services accessed by gay people and Ghana’s homophobic media seized on the numbers. The news also got the Ghanaian Christian Council riled up; it asked voters not to vote for any politician that supported gay rights. Aidoo added to the disquiet, commenting that “all efforts are being made to get rid of these people in the society”, calling LGBT people “detestable and abominable.”

The internet has undoubtedly made life easier for gay people across the globe. With global sites like Manhunt and Gaydar making it easier to connect with other people of the same orientation, plus being able to find out information unavailable in schools and libraries, an underground has been established in many countries where homosexuality is taboo – if you are lucky enough to have access to a computer. However, in Africa the internet can be a weapon. There are reports of attractive young men creating profiles, and then blackmailing (or worse) the hopeful prospect. The internet is also providing homophobes with more information; and they are pouncing on this to prove that homosexuality is growing, that it is a curse, that it is imported from the West, along with other scaremongering statements.

With pressure building on the LBGT community, it is worth noting the obstacles LGBT people in Ghana already face. The constitution of Ghana guarantees human rights, but fails to include sexuality. There are no anti-discrimination laws. The hugely influential Christian and Muslim preachers condemn homosexuality and call it ‘un-African’.

Ironically, most of the anti-gay laws are leftovers from the British colonial era. In 2006, a gay and lesbian conference was reported to be taking place in the capital, Accra. The government swiftly banned it and the Information Minister went on record as saying “the government would like to make it absolutely clear that it should not permit the proposed conference anywhere in Ghana. Unnatural carnal knowledge is illegal under our criminal code. Homosexuality, lesbianism and bestiality are therefore illegal under the laws of Ghana.”

The implications Aidoo’s statement are especially troubling when you think of the HIV/ AIDS crisis that has devastated the African continent. According to USAID, in 2006, 25% of gay men had HIV or AIDS. As in Uganda, where many gay people think the Anti-Homosexuality Bill was made law – it’s actually been stalled – many men are now not accessing health services. AIDS aside, being an involuntary member of a group that could be arrested any minute must be stressful and probably not too good for one’s self esteem.

I am 27 and have lived in Queensland for most of my life. I am acutely aware of the parallels between life here for me being gay, and what it would be like in an African country. I often imagine myself being in their shoes, and think of those awful questions with which I would have to wrestle: what am I going to do? Who will help me? Where can I get safe information?

View original article here

August 29, 2011 – African Activist

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Ghana’s President Says Government Will Not Decriminalise Homosexuality

According to the Ghana News Agency, President John Evans Atta Mills remarked that the government would not decriminalise homosexuality and LGBTI persons should "stop the practice." The President made his remarks at a festival with the theme, “Promoting Our Cultural Heritage to Eradicate Social Vices.” He characterised homosexuality as "dehumanizing" and "inimical to the fundamental human rights of people." President John Evans Atta Mills has stated that the Government would not legalize the practice of homosexuality and lesbianism in the country. The President said the Government would not encourage anything that goes against the culture of the country and cautioned homosexuals and lesbians to stop the practice.

President Mills made the statement in a speech read for him by Mr Alexander Asum-Ahensah, Minister for Culture and Chieftaincy Affairs at a durbar to mark the celebration of the Odambea Festival of the people of Nkusukum Traditional Area at Saltpond at the weekend. The theme for the festival was, “Promoting Our Cultural Heritage to Eradicate Social Vices”. President Mills said the theme was very appropriate considering the prevailing moral decline in the Ghanaian society today.

He said it was often said that when people lost their culture they had lost their identity. “Our moral values are greatly threatened by our desperate pursuit of materialism as a measure of progress in society; as caution is thrown to the wind as we go to great length to do anything to achieve and satisfy these wanton desires”, he said. He said drug abuse, armed robbery, child prostitution, homosexuality, lesbianism as well as rape, defilement and other sex-related crimes were on the increase to day, attesting to the high rate of immorality prevalent in the society.

President Mills called on Nananom, as custodians of the nation’s rich cultural values to work closely with other opinion leaders in their traditional areas and partner the State institutions responsible for youth development to evolve strategies to address those social vices in the society.

Read article

October, 2011 – Outwords

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Targeting the Invisible World Of Men Who Have Sex With Men

by Peter Carlyle-Gordge
Ask any outreach worker in the fight against HIV transmission and you’ll find one of the hardest at-risk groups to reach is MSM, or men who have sex with men. Men in this group don’t necessarily identify as gay. Some may be married to women and have families. Some may simply avoid defining their sexual orientation and it is often hard to pinpoint where they gather or connect.

Now, if reaching the MSM group is challenging here, consider its near impossibility in such homophobic places as Africa, a place still plagued by superstition, repression and an outright burning hostility to any sexual practices beyond the vanilla heterosexual variety. In many Islamic countries such as Iran and Iraq, being attracted to the same sex may bring instant death by a mob, or less instant death after a shameful “trial” in an Islamic court, which may sentence you to be hanged, often in public.

Attitudes to same-sex attraction in Africa aren’t much better, with a nasty, often violent reaction to same-sex couplings – an official kind of homophobia that is encouraged by the Neanderthal and ignorant Catholic and Anglican churches. Indeed, the current worldwide Anglican communion is deeply split on same-sex rights, thanks largely to the Archbishop of Canterbury kowtowing in fear to the outspoken black African bishops who despise homosexuality and claim God does, too. You don’t need to go far to stack up evidence of this official homophobia. The president of Iran famously came to the U.S. and told a university audience that same-sex dalliances did not exist in Iran. The evidence in the form of beatings and hangings of gay men tends to undermine his insane statement.

In July, a news item from Ghana highlighted the same problem when a government minister ordered the arrest of any gays or lesbians found in that country’s western region. Paul Evans Aidoo, the minister for the region, directed the Bureau of National Investigations and other agencies to find gay people and bring them before the courts. He also called on landlords and tenants to inform on those they believe to be gay. “All efforts are being made to get rid of these people in the society,” this enlightened idiot is reported to have said. In Ghana, homosexuality is still considered a moral aberration, or even a myth.

Read complete stroy here

4th October 2011 – Coalition Against Homophobia

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Ghana AIDS Commission Statement on Homosexuality Sparks Hate Speeches, Condemnation and Threats from Religious, Traditional and Political Leaders

Accra – The Coalition Against Homophobia in Ghana (CAHG) is deeply concerned about a statement issued by the Ghana Aids Commission (GAC), captured by the Daily Guide on Friday 3rd June 2011. This statement was only recently brought to the attention of CAHG members. The statement was headed “AIDS Commission Monitors Gays”, according to the newspaper, “in reaction to reports of gay activities”. In the statement, Dr. Angela El-Adas, Director General of GAC, said that the MSM (men having sex with men) situation in Ghana was “an issue we cannot run away from”. The statement subsequently says that “it is important that all hands are on deck to reduce the number of young people who are lured into MSM” and called on “all religious leaders, traditional authorities, educationist, parents and NGOs working with young people to get involved in educating males on the dangers of being involved in sex with other men”.

This was followed by a press conference by a member of the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) who is also a member of the Christian Council of Ghana to condemn homosexuals. The press conference allegedly included references to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community calling for the de-criminalization of homosexuality in the country – which has not been the case to date. Those in attendance called for everyone to fight against homosexual individuals and groups, plus defeat any member of parliament supportive of homosexuals and homosexuality in the next election. Following this, traditional leader have also condemned homosexuality and called for arrest of any people who engage in the practice. After President John Evans Atta-Mills made homophobic comments during his nomination acceptance speech in Sunyani, the Western Regional Minister, Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, also called for the arrest of all homosexuals in the region. Even the newly-appointed head of CHRAJ – mandated to protect the Human Rights of all Ghanaians – has recently back-pedaled and distanced herself from an earlier statement that she made which was “misquoted” as calling for de-criminalization of homosexuality.

This was a particularly discouraging turn of events for Coalition members. The coalition believes the statement made by the Ghana AIDS Commission set the stage for the present homophobic attacks against gay and lesbian people who are just trying to live their lives on a daily basis like anyone else. We know of no members of the LGBT community who attempt to lure young people into homosexual behavior. We believe adults having sex with minors is wrong, whether the perpetrator be heterosexual or homosexual. Such behavior must always be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. We feel the statement issued by the Ghana Aids Commission has been inflammatory and seriously misunderstood by the general public as giving license to gay-bashing and other forms of discrimination against members of the LGBT community. We call on the GAC to clearly state how its position has evolved on homosexuality in Ghana to give the public and the LGBT community a clear idea on their position. The GAC’s job is to work in all areas of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support; not to derogate or single out any particular population for further stigmatization and discrimination.

Since over 90% of people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in Ghana to date are heterosexual, it seems particularly inappropriate to be calling on Ghanaian leaders to single out men having sex with men as culprits to be arrested or incarcerated in the midst of this serious epidemic. Because of the HIV/AIDS statistics to date, should the GAC be warning only males and females about the risk of having sex with each other? No, that would be ridiculous. Rather, GAC should just be educating ALL Ghanaians – male and female of all ages, in all occupations and all religions – about the risk of having unprotected penetrative sex, about having multiple sexual partners and about stigmatizing any of our Ghanaian sisters and brothers, who have all been created equal in the eyes of our Creator.

For more information, please contact the coalition
Or Nii Addo on +233 277 754247

October 5th, 2011 – SDGLN.com

10b
In Ghana, LGBT people come out as civil society abandons them

by Paul Canning – LGBT Asylum News
In Ghana, LGBT people come out as civil society abandons them Fed up with both day after day of nasty newspaper headlines and one civil society leader after another abandoning them, last Friday Accra’s gay community came out, one-by-one, at a major "straight" forum. Ghanian blogger Graham Knight described the collective coming out as "remarkable." The forum was the Talk Parti, a monthly space for Accra’s "dopest artists and media creatives." It "provides a space for young people to create innovative projects, exchange ideas about global art and politics."

"The event last week showed the [voguing] film Paris is Burning and they had invited [gay leader] Prince MacDarling and his crew," says Knight, "some of whom represented his Coalition Against Homophobia in Ghana (CAHG). One by one, these guys stood up and announced they were gay (or gay but with girlfriend)."

In a Facebook comment, Independent Filmmaker Akua Ofosuhene said:
"It was great to see such a self confident, articulate, sharin and stylish Accra Gay community. The discussions were great and testimony to all that is great in Ghana." Knight said that in the discussion gay people said that all the recent negative press had actually highlighted the issue to isolated MSM’s (Men who have Sex with Men) and "showed they were not alone". As a result: "They didn’t seem to have any strong views on the negative publicity." The attacks on LGBT in the media began after a false but widely repeated report in May claiming that ‘8000 homosexuals had been registered’ at an NGO.

Read complete article here

2011 October 09 – Thai Visa Forum

11
Ghana church official says poverty, unemployment ’cause’ homosexuality

Accra (BNO NEWS) — A Ghanaian church official on Friday warned local youth about homosexuality and said it is largely ’caused’ by poverty and unemployment, local media reported on Saturday. Reverend Dr. Bugri Nagbo, the Northern Regional Chairman of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, was addressing youth groups, political parties and chiefs in Tamale, the capital of the Northern Region, during a peace-building seminar organized by the church. "He said the actors (homosexuals) give their victims fat envelopes of money and assorted gifts to entice them into the act and advised the youth to beware," the state-run Ghana News Agency said in a news report. Nagbo claimed same-sex relations are usually between an older, richer person and a poor young person.

Meanwhile, in the fishing town of Winneba in southern Ghana, psychologist Alhasan Baba Mamudu warned youth to get rid of homosexuality because ‘it could destroy their lives’ in the future. He also called on parents, Christian and Muslim leaders and the government to intensify their campaign against homosexuality. The law in Ghana makes consenting homosexual acts a misdemeanor, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgenders (LGBT) face widespread discrimination as well as police harassment and extortion attempts. Gay men in prison are often subjected to sexual and other physical abuse.

In late July, Western Region Minister Paul Evans Aidoo ordered the arrest of all homosexuals in the region and tasked security agencies to ‘smoke out’ all citizens suspected to be engaging in homosexual acts. "All efforts are being made to get rid of these people in the society," he was cited as saying by local radio station Joy FM. In June 2010, more than 1,000 people protested in the city of Takoradi against reports of gay and lesbian activities in their city. There are no registered LGBT organizations in the African country.

October 13, 2011 – The African Activist

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Tutu to Christians in Africa: "It is not always popular to do justice, but it is always right."

In September the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) voted to sever ties with the Presbyterian Church (USA) which now ordains openly lesbian and gay candidates to the ministry. Archbishop Desmond Tutu has written the Presbyterian Church (USA) to encourage them and to help them remember that, "It is not always popular to do justice, but it is always right."

Read Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s Letter here

3 November 2011 – PinkNews

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Ghana’s president will “never support” legalising homosexuality

by Stephen Gray
The Ghanaian President John Atta Mills has reacted angrily UK’s threat to cut bilateral aid if the country refuses to legalise homosexuality. He said the UK did not have the right to “direct to other sovereign nations as to what they should do”, saying their society’s “norms” were different from those in the UK. Mr Atta Mills told the BBC: “I, as president, will never initiate or support any attempt to legalise homosexuality in Ghana.” The British Prime Minister raised the issue of gay rights and bilateral aid at a Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Australia. Mr Cameron told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show at the weekend: “Britain is now one of the premier aid givers in the world – saying that our aid, actually we want to see countries that receive our aid adhering to proper human rights, and that includes how people treat gay and lesbian people.”

He was asked whether African countries would have their aid reduced if they did not reverse anti-gay legislation. Mr Cameron replied: “We are saying it is one of the things that will determine our aid policy.” Earlier this week a Ugandan presidential official, John Nagenda, said his country was “tired of these lectures” and that the Commonwealth nations should not be treated like “children”. The Ghanaian president Atta Mills’ communications chief Koku Anyidoho told the BBC: “If that aid is going to be tied to things that will destroy the moral fibre of society, do you really want that?”

Peter Tatchell, Director of the human rights lobby the Peter Tatchell Foundation, stressed the importance of redirecting aid appropriately. He said: “Instead of cutting aid, Britain and other donor countries should divert their aid money from human rights abusing governments and redirect it to grassroots, community-based humanitarian projects that respect human rights and do not discriminate in their service provision. These frontline, on-the-ground projects tend to deliver the most cost-effective aid that gets most directly to the people who need it. By redirecting aid in this way, abusive governments are punished but poor people are not penalised. They continue to receive the aid they need. Any sanctions must always be targeted at human rights abusers, not at the general population.”

Mac-Darling Cobbinah, the executive and national director of the Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights Ghana, said the move would only bring “pain and anguish” to the struggling country. He added that the plans could backfire and lead to gay people being blamed for aid cuts. Speaking to Paul Canning of LGBT Asylum News, Mr Cobbinah said: “We from Ghana LGBTi community think this is not enough. Cutting down aid will not bring anything other than pain and anguish to the already polarised society or country and LGBTi people will be used as scapegoats for under development in our countries.

“There should be support for LGBTi groups to conduct more education to get people to know and understand sexuality and gender diversity instead of aid cuts. The UK should lead the way by supporting LGBTi groups in these countries to organise more awareness programmes and talk shows to get the majority of the people to understand the issues of LGBTi rights.” He added: “We do not want to leave to Europe for asylum and so want to live here and improve the lives of our people here. We need more than just speeches.”

Ghana received £36m last year in general budgetary support to the government, with £90m sent in total.

November 8, 2011 – Tetu.com
Translated from French

14
Homophobic laws: Ghana and Tanzania Will Not Yield to British Pressure

by Habibou Bangre
Both countries refuse to change their legislation to comply with the gay rights even if Britain threatens to cut aid. After those of Uganda, it was the turn of the leaders of Tanzania and Ghana to fulminate. They do not digest the threat of British Prime Minister David Cameron to cut aid to countries not respecting the rights of homosexuals (read our article). "Accept this condition is almost impossible. We do not choose this option. They can stop using if they want, "launched on November 3, concerning the marriage of homosexuals, Dr Ali Mohammed Shein, president of Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous archipelago of Tanzania who vote in 2004 a law criminalizing homosexuality.

"I, as president of Ghana, can never bear to initiate an attempt to legalize homosexuality in Ghana", for his part declared November 2nd President John Atta-Mills, noting that David Cameron had not a "dictate to other sovereign nations what they should do."

Moral Values
"Our position on this issue is very clear, added Bernard Membe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Tanzania, a country of East Africa. Our moral values and our culture will always take the top even though we are poor. We understand the problem of the Conservative Party of Great Britain but we will not yield to pressure." The foreign minister added that the attitude of Great Britain threatened to divide the Commonwealth, which groups in majority and its former colonies of 54 or 41 members have a homophobic legislation. He further stated that this year, he had denied accreditation of a diplomat than a gay Western countries want to detach.

LGBT Fear of Backlash
In a statement, eight gay Ghanaian associations contacted London not to play the diplomatic card to support the LGBT Africans. Their fear: that a withdrawal of aid "increases the level of stigma, violence and discrimination against LGBT people in Africa" and that health facilities review their gay-friendly policy. Some of these associations are part of the fifty African organizations that have recently launched an appeal against British threats, creating "a real risk of backlash against LGBTI"

Gay Ghana &Reports 2011

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