The Fight for Change-Homophobia in Ghana
According to the 2010 Ghana government census, approximately 71 percent of the population is Christian, 18 percent Muslim, 5 percent adheres to indigenous or animistic religious beliefs, and 6 percent belongs to other religious groups or has no religious beliefs. Whether christian, Islam or indigenous religion, the above religions frown on homosexuality because it is believed to go against “God” and the “gods”.
In February of 2021, the European Union Opened on new LGBTQIA office in
Where then is the line drawn between freedom of expression and freedom of religion in norms of human rights. I personally believe that change is bound to happen but the longevity and time period before this change is dependent on the values of public opinion. With this theory in mind, I would argue that as long as Ghana is a country whose people are dependent on Christian, Islam and indigenous values, the lgbtqia community will not be welcomed to fully live express themselves in Ghana. Unless there is a strong need and desire for change, this change will not occur.
The two opposing groups have strong compelling arguments for their stance with or against the LGBTQ community. Ghanaians who support the raiding of the lgbtq office are either Christians who believe that homosexuality is part of a satanic agenda intended to destroy and harm their religion or people who do not trust the west and strongly uphold the ideology that homosexuality is from the west and cannot be accepted. Finally, the last group of people who oppose the lgbtq community believe that Ghanaian values do not tolerate such beliefs that go against “nature”.
Ghanaians who believe that the raid goes against the basic human rights of individual and the democracy and freedom of individuals argue that the church and other religions are hypocritical in their ways because they seem to pick and choose what rules they follow in their religion. While others who are against the raid also believe that persecution for one’s sexual orientation is inhumane and is a disgrace to the nation.
With the two opposing sides, it seems that the International community as well is also divided in its stance. Countries like the United states and organizations like the European Union are in support of the lgbtq community compared to other Africa countries alike like Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria and many more have similar views on the LGBTQ community as Ghana.
In an interview in 2017 with Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, he was asked “why is homosexuality still illegal in Ghana”.(Al Jazeera) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj-HtO9vLTc)
“I don't believe that in Ghana so far a sufficiently strong coalition has emerged which is having that impact on public opinion that will say change it let's then have a new paradigm in Ghana”, President Nana Akuffo Addo.
The president's response proves that Ghana is a low autonomy country and strongly moved by public opinion. Even though it is a unitary state with rational legal legitimacy, the core of Ghanaian citizens is of traditional legitimacy. In the interview, he stated that the process by which all other European countries became open to the ideals of the LGBTQ is the same process Ghana will eventually pass through when there's a need for it.
Ghana’s minister-designate for gender, children and social protection, Sarah Adwoa Safo, said last week that “the issue of the criminality of LGBT is non-negotiable and our cultural practices also frown on it”
( https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/24/ghana-shuts-down-lgbt-office-rights-group )
Some say it is a shame to see that people who are elected in power to tackle such social issues are ignorant and opposing views say that ignorance is not the matter at play but change of identity and religious beliefs should not be warranted in their governmental positions.
In my personal opinion, change of laws does not equal acceptance.Even if the laws in Ghana were changed to accommodate the lgbtq community,though it is a right step, it will take a long time to change the heart of the people but this mindset will never be erased.
The United States is a perfect example to illustrate this belief. I may liken this situation to racism in the United States. There are laws against discrimination and racism yet racism continues to occur and is rampant in our society. Yes, there is a difference between the way people of color are treated now versus the time period of Jim Crow yet because the foundation of the United States is rooted and founded on racism and violence of people of color, it will never be erased. This same principle applies to west African countries like Ghana that are against the lgbtq community. Change is possible so fighting is necessary but I believe that homophobia will always be present to some degree in west African countries.
Unlike the United States, most governments of West African countries are intertwined with religion and traditionalist culture. Even though “civilization” has forced Ghana to adapt colonial principles of governance, "neo colonisation" as Dr Kwame Nkrumah would say, the foundation of Ghana is based on traditionalistic views. Thus, the LGBTQ community will sadly face a lot of backlash and hate in fighting for change and acceptance in Ghana. Change is possible but at what cost?
https://www.newsintervention.com/moses-foh-amoaning/
https://twitter.com/LGBTRightsGhana
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/24/ghana-shuts-down-lgbt-office-rights-group
1 comment:
Hi Immanuela,
I really liked your blog post. I think this is such an important topic, and I particularly like how you chose to focus on this issue in Ghana. Growing up in the United States, we hear a lot about these type of issues, but not really outside of the U.S. Do you think that Ghana should implement more regulations to try to grow towards less homophobia? I know you mentioned in class that you think that it will never happen that Ghana is accepting of homosexuality. I wish this was not the case. What types of changes do you think are necessary to change this? Education?
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