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Nasty headline isn't that? Sadly, its not a fictional headline. The other day a piece on the rape of men in Uganda was featured and although not directly related, it does give a glimpse into the mindset of most of the Sub-Saharan nations of Africa.
While the American christian missionaries, particularly the evangelicals claim that their "preaching the word" is never intended to direct acts of violence against the LGBTQ community nor do those claim that their influences or intended to otherwise 'harm' LGBTQ persons, all evidence is to the contrary.
Granted, some of the homophobia is imprinted on these societies from their respective colonial periods, yet empirical data shows that the modern campaigning by western christian organisations and so-called family values groups has contributed greatly as witnessed in Uganda last year with that countries draconian anti-gay legislation introduced in its parliament.
SEKONDI-TAKORADI, WESTERN REGION, GHANA -- The Western Region Minister Paul Evans Aidoo has ordered the immediate arrest of all homosexuals in the region.
He has tasked the Bureau of National Investigations and all security agencies to smoke out persons suspected to be engaging in same sex.
He also enlisted the services of landlords and tenants to provide reliable information which will lead to the arrest of homosexuals.
His directive follows months of campaigns against the practice of homosexuality in the country.
Only yesterday, the Christian Council of Ghana capped months of protestations against the practice of homosexuality with a strongly worded message against the practice and courting Ghanaians not to vote for any politician who believes in the rights of homosexuals.
The Western Region has been a beehive of activities linked with homosexuality. A recent media report claimed the Western and Central Regions together have a total of about 8,000 homosexuals and lesbians.
That report sparked a series of religious demonstrations with the Moslem and Christian communities in the region hitting the streets to protest what they claim is an ungodly and demonic act.
In an interview, Minister Aidoo condemned the practice but also contested the figure being bandied about in the media. Whilst conceding that the practice actually goes on in the region and in people’s closets, he said the 8,000 figure cannot be correct.
“I don’t believe it; nobody believes it,” he said, adding, “We do not see them; REGSEG does not see them.”
He accused the NGO alleged to have registered the total number of gay and lesbians in the two regions of engaging in selfish practice.
The minister expressed his dislike for the "practice of homosexuality." He stated that “all efforts are being made to get rid of these people in the society.”
He said once they are arrested they will be hauled before court to test the strength of the law which frowns upon homosexuality in the country.
But a Lawyer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology has challenged the legitimacy of the minister's action.
Ernest Kofi Abotsie stated that no person can be arrested for breach of morality under Ghana's laws, explaining that the law on “unnatural canal knowledge” in the criminal code is still ambiguous and cannot necessarily be said to be the same as homosexuality.
He faulted the minister for directing the police to embark on the arrest of homosexuals, arguing that the police by their professional training must be seen to be carrying out their duty, if there is the breach of law, without being prompted.
But he pointed out there is need to test the law pertaining to having unnatural canal knowledge of another person and should be appealed through to the Supreme Court.
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