Features
Ghana: Homosexuals becoming ‘endangered species’?
Just last Monday night, 18th October, 2021, two suspected Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI+) practitioners were reportedly beaten to death in Tamale when they were “caught red-handed in the act.”
Reportedly, the angry mob who allegedly lynched the two suspected LGBTQI+ practitioners also severely assaulted two other suspects who were later “carried” to the police station by sympathetic eye-witnesses.
The four suspected LGBTQI+ practitioners were allegedly “caught in the act” behind the offices of GBC-Radio Savannah in Tamale.
Kwasi Prempeh, CDD
(anti- ‘HOMO BILL’)
of the ‘HOMO BILL’)
Reportedly, the “acts” of the four suspects, all male, attracted some Volta River Authority (VRA) workers in the area, who raised an alarm, thus, attracting a huge crowd to the scene.
The four LGBTQI+ suspects were said to be stark-naked and ‘doing their own thing’ in an uncompleted building when they were stumbled upon by the VRA staff who were working behind the offices of GBC-Radio Savannah.
Reporting the incident on Rainbow FM (87.5) , Prince Kwame Tamakloe said that the Crime Officer at the police station, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Prosper Ananga, confirmed the story and advised residents in Tamale to desist from taking the law into their own hands.
He said, DSP Ananga, however, lamented that the activities of homosexuals had increased in the area.
Readers, taking a cue from what has just happened in Tamale and juxtaposing it with the raging national conversation on Ghana’s ‘Homosexual Bill’ currently before Parliament; can one comfortably predict that when the bill is passed into law, Ghana will be better-off?
The national debate on the ‘HOMO BILL’ is heating up . The Bill is yet to be passed. And already, two suspected homosexuals have been ‘sacrificed’ on the altar of ‘indecency’ and ‘tradition’. And the other two ‘lucky’ suspects are ‘licking their wounds in hell.’
The ‘HOMO BILL’ before Parliament is titled: Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghana’s Family Values Bill, 2021. And it prescribes stiffer punishment against homosexuality in the country.
The ‘HOMO BILL’ proscribes dissemination of ideas, images, and symbols of any kind that promotes homosexuality and prohibits support by an individual or organisation for a homosexual group in Ghana.
Eight Members of Parliament introduced the ‘HOMO BILL’ in Parliament in August 2021. The Bill imposes between five and 10 years imprisonment for violations.
Homosexual conduct is already criminalised by Ghana’s existing criminal laws.
Section 104 (1) (b) of Ghana’s Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) abhors consensual same-sex intercourse and prohibits it.
Indeed, the only mode of sexual intercourse which does not offend Ghanaian law, is sexual intercourse through the vagina by penal penetration.
Really, currently, many Ghanaians strongly believe that the ‘HOMO BILL’ must be passed to strengthen the existing laws, so as to halt the emerging ‘modern colonisation’ of Africa via ‘rotten’ homosexual behaviours.
What then is homosexuality? It is a romantic attraction or sexual behaviour between members of same-sex or gender.
As a matter of fact, there exists a very strong opposition against the emerging LGBTQI+ community in Ghana. They include some religious institutions, traditional rulers and teacher unions. They strongly argue that homosexuality is not a RIGHTS issue and, therefore, support the ‘HOMO BILL’ in Parliament.
Just about 20 Ghanaian intellectuals and professionals are, however, vigorously expressing their disapproval of the Bill.
They contend that some of the provisions of the ‘HOMO BILL’ violate Ghana’s 1992 Constitution; particularly the chapter on Human Rights as spelt out in the Constitution.
An Afrobarometer survey conducted in 2014, however, indicated that over 90 per cent of Ghanaians are vehemently against homosexuality. And the outcome of the survey endorses the general belief of many Ghanaians about the nation’s family values.
“I dare say that in Ghana, any chief who gives shelter to any homosexual in any community, will be destooled without any notice,” a linquist who wants to remain anonymous, he said.
According to the linquist: “Ghanaian traditional gods strongly believe in ‘life’ and ‘procreation’, ” adding that “the gods vehemently abhor sexual activities of homosexuals; to the extent that it is a curse for homosexuals to be flaunting their activities on our sacred space.”
Joshua Ashun-Aikins, a political science student of the University of Cape Coast also says; “any political party in Ghana which will make a mistake by just promising to legalise the activities of LGBTQI+ in the country, will consign itself straight to the grave.
“Because Ghanaians will surely not vote for that political party to win power. Instead, the party will be mocked and tagged, ‘trumu-trumu’ party.”
Around the world, for instance, the legal status of polygamy, which is commonly practised in Africa, varies. Some countries outlaw, accept or encourage polygamy.
So, in the same way, homosexuality and same-sex behaviours may be outlawed, accepted or encouraged by certain countries across the globe.
From the foregoing, therefore, would the passage of the ‘HOMO BILL’ into law, strengthen the hands of its proponents to ‘terrorise’ homosexuals in the country? Or would such a law rather encourage homosexuals to tilt towards ‘ proper human and sexual rights’ and guide them to practise Ghana’s family values?
Readers, over to you now!!!
Contact email/ WhatsApp of author:
asmahfrankg@gmail.com (0505556179)
By G. Frank Asamah
On Sunday, October 11, 2026, it was the turn of Ghanaian Catholics in Finland to lead the singing in the church service of the African Catholic Chaplaincy in Finland (ACCF).
It was indeed a spirit-filled feeling for worshippers present. And for the Ghanaian migrants, the occasion also brought back to them memories of church services in their home country, Ghana.
The ACCF has a roster for each country/community to sing from time to time. Next Sunday will be the turn of the Nigerian community. Other communities that usually sing are the Kenyan/Tanzanian community, the Cameroonian, the Ugandan, group, etc.
A powerful religious experience
The mass services of the Chaplaincy usually give a powerful religious experience and a display of cultural diversity, especially in occasions such as when the Bishop of Helsinki, Bishop Raimo Goyarrola, celebrated mass with the Chaplaincy on Pentecost Day, May 24, 2026.
There was a similar time of spiritual joy last month (September 27, 2026) when Emeritus Bishop Teemu Sippo, former Bishop of Helsinki, visited the Chaplaincy. Bishop Teemu was the main celebrant, assisted by the Chaplain, Reverend Father Thomas Otieno.
Last Sunday, Reverend Father Bernard Sor, a Ghanaian Catholic priest based in Austria, was the main celebrant in the mass service where he performed a rite of baptism. Fr Bernard had celebrated mass a few months ago when he visited his sister and her husband in Helsinki. 
All these well-attended religious occasions indeed leave lasting memories. The homilies (peaching) by the priests usually emphasize religious tenets such as the importance of loving and serving God in truth, existing in peace with our fellow humans to promote unity in diversity, etc.
Unity in diversity and a colourful display of cultures
The African Chaplaincy church services usually produce impressive displays of diverse cultures from different parts of Africa and elsewhere. The events are often spiced by rich cultural displays of dances and colourful attires which are a delight to watch.
On special occasions, members of the Ghanaian Catholic community, in their gay and colourful kente attire and with adowa dance and music, usually lead the procession into the church. Other communities such as the Cameroonian, Nigerian, Kenyan and Tanzanian as well as Sudanese/South Sudanese groups also put up well-choreographed performances from their cultures.
The African Catholic Chaplaincy in Finland
The African Chaplaincy was founded on June 4, 2017, which was a Pentecost Sunday, in a Pontifical High Mass celebrated by Monsignor Emeritus Sippo S.C.I., the then Bishop of Helsinki, at the St. Mary’s Catholic Parish Church in Helsinki.
The Chaplaincy was created by Bishop Teemu in collaboration with the Diocesan body when they detected a great flocking of African immigrants to Finland, the majority of whom were Catholics. This was to give the immigrants a possibility to integrate into the Finnish society by worshiping as Catholics and in their African cultural identity.
The responsibility of the Chaplaincy was given by Bishop Teemu to Father Dr Leonard Wobilla Shwei, who is thus the first Chaplain and ably led the Chaplaincy. He was succeeded a few years ago by Father Thomas Otieno, who continues to move the Chaplaincy forward. Thank you!
GHANA MATTERS column appears fortnightly. Written in simple, layman’s terms, it concentrates on matters about Ghana and beyond. It focuses on everyday life issues relating to the social, cultural, economic, religious, political, health, sports, youth, gender, etc. It strives to remind us all that Ghana comes first. The column also takes a candid look at the meanings and repercussions of our actions, especially those things we take for granted or even ignore. There are key Ghanaian values we should uphold rather than disregard with impunity. We should not overlook the obvious. We need to search for the hidden or deeply embedded values and try to project them.
With Dr Perpetual Crentsil
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She did not find out he was cheating. She found out he was drowning.
It was two weeks after their beautiful wedding. The jollof was still in the fridge. A loan officer called her number-not his-and politely asked, “Madam, please tell your husband to pay his overdue loan. We have been calling him.”
That was how she discovered her new husband had entered their marriage with a hidden debt of over GH¢ 40,000. No cheating. No other woman. Just a financial secret.
And that is how many Ghanaian marriages begin to die. Not with a shout, but with a secret alert on a phone.
We prepare for the wedding. We do not prepare for the wallet.
What is money honesty?
Let me define it simply. Money honesty is not that you both earn the same. It is that you both know the same. It is the ability to sit down and say without fear:
“This is how much I earn.”
“This is how much I owe.”
“This is how I was raised to see money.”
“This is what scares me about money.”
Financial transparency is not about control. It is about clarity. You cannot build trust on top of secrets.
Many couples tell me, “Counsellor, we love each other, love will handle money.” I always answer, “Love is the car, but money honesty is the fuel. Love without honesty cannot move.”
How To Buy Your Marriage Insurance Today – My 5-Step Protocol
If you are engaged, newly married, or even 20 years in marriage, you can still fix this. At Counsellor Prince & Associates Consult—CPAC, this is what I give couples:
Step 1: The 90-Minute Money Naked Session.
No phones, no blame. Each partner writes down on paper: Monthly income, monthly debts, monthly family obligations, savings, and your biggest money fear. Then you exchange papers. Read it. Don’t react for 24 hours. Just absorb.
Step 2: Create OUR Money, YOUR Money, My Money.
You need three pots. OUR money for rent, food, school fees, utilities, properties, and the like— joint contribution. YOUR money and MY money—a small agreed allowance no one questions. This stops the feeling of being controlled.
Step 3: The No-Secret Debt Rule.
Agree from today: No new loan, no new hire purchase, no new family financial commitment above GHS 500 without telling each other first. Not permission, but information.
Step 4: Talk About Your Money Personality.
Are you a Spender or a Saver? Are you Risky or Safe? Most Ghanaian marriages are a Spender married to a Saver. Neither is wrong. But if you don’t understand your partner’s personality, you will call his saving “stinginess” and her spending “wastefulness.”
Step 5: Do a Monthly 30-Minute Money Date
Not an argument date. Light, with tea. “How did we do this month? What worried you? What should we plan for next month?” Couples who do this divorce far less.
My Final Word
Before you say “I Do” at the altar, have pre-marital counselling and also have the money talk on the sofa.
Ask your partner:
“If I lost my job today, how long can we survive?”
“What debt are you bringing into this marriage?”
“How much do you send to your family monthly and will that continue?”
If he or she gets angry that you asked, don’t get married yet. A person who is angry about accountability will be abusive about money.
Marriage insurance is not bought at Star Assurance or Enterprise. It is bought in honest conversations when no one is watching.
The wedding costs one day. The marriage costs a lifetime. Don’t enter a lifetime contract and covenant with hidden costs.
You can still insure your marriage today.
Source:
Counselor Prince Offei, CPAC’s founder, is a leading Mental Health Professional, Marriage Counsellor, Author, ADR Expert/Arbitrator, and Spectator Newspaper Columnist. He writes on relationships, marriage, parenting, special needs support, and their connection to mental health. For therapy, counselling, or enquiries, contact Counselor Prince & Associates Consult (CPAC) in Accra on 0559850604 / 0551428486.
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