The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer + (LGBTQ+) Rights of Ghana has urged its members to remain calm and not panic after their newly rented office was shut down by the Ghanaian Police on Wednesday, February 24, 2021.
The new office located at Ashongman in Accra was shut down after the landlord of the building and the Kwabenya Traditional Council stormed the property in protest of the LGBTQ activities that took place there.
Dr. Asenso Gyambi who owns the property explained that one Alex Kofi Donkor who doubles as the Director of LGBTQ had rented the property under the pretext of using the location for some health-related Non-Profit Organization.
Speaking to popular Ghanaian Radio Station, Joy FM in Accra, the landlord, Dr. Asenso said he received a text message from an undisclosed source, who explained that his property was actually being used for LGBTQ activities.
“When I asked for evidence he sent me pictures of an event that was held in this house so I called the agent and I asked him who rented the house because they have been here for just two months.
“I asked him if he was aware an event of this nature took place there? He said ‘Oh Doc, nothing really, it was just a party and fundraiser event we were having and it is all over social media.”
Dr. Asenso was obviously horrified to learn that indeed, his property which Kofi had rented for a so called health NGO was being used as a regional office for the LGBTQ+ community in Ghana and probably beyond.
The Kwabenya Traditional Council also condemned LGBTQI activities within its catchment area and vowed to resist any attempt to infiltrate their culture and tradition with something they consider alien to their way of life.
Ghanaians from all works of life have risen to condemn the group’s daring move in Ghana and accused the European Union of aiding and abetting the LGBTQ Rights group in Ghana with loads of cash money and sundry logistical supports, despite fierce opposition from some Christian and other religious organizations.
In a reassuring tweet sent out to its members shortly after their office closure, the group said: “While this unfortunate incident has happened, we wish to encourage all our members, and queer Ghanaians to stay calm. Do not panic.
“We anticipated this. We will triumph.
“The police may have raided our office, and closed it down but the real office is in our hearts, and minds.”
With the widely applauded closure of the new LGBTQ office, the fate of the Rights group in Ghana hangs in the balance. But many argue that it’s only a matter of time before the group is firmly rooted in Ghana, given not just the overwhelming support they receive from the European Union, but more so from the US president Biden’s administration.
Biden recently went public with a presidential memorandum in which he seeks to the full weight of American Diplomatic Tools punishing and isolating nations around the world who might not be so welcoming to the LGBTQ+ ideology. According to Biden, defaulting nations will face Financial Sanctions and blanket Visa Restrictions from the United States “for infringing on the rights of the LGBTQ+ people.”
As the Rights Group fights for its survival in Ghana, a Ghanaian journalist and former Metro TV Newscaster Ignatius Annor has officially come out as gay. Ignatius once denied his status as gay because, according to him, “i was scared!” Today, Ignatius is no longer scared and his LGBTQ+ community in Ghana loves him for it.