By Daniel Bampoe
The Minority Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to immediately condemn and take action against what he describes as the “desecration” of Ghana’s national monuments by homosexual activists.
In a strongly worded letter dated Thursday, June 26, the MP expressed deep sorrow and moral outrage over the recent circulation of photographs showing two LGBTQ+ individuals posing at iconic national sites — the Independence Square and the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum — in what he views as a symbolic attempt to promote values that contradict Ghana’s cultural and religious identity.
A Cultural and Spiritual Flashpoint
“These spaces are sacred,” Assafuah wrote. “They are not to be turned into platforms for promoting acts that are fundamentally alien to our cultural, moral, and religious values.”
He described the photo shoot as more than a casual act, branding it a “moral affront” and “spiritual insult” to the nation.
In his words, the incident reflects a broader agenda to normalize homosexuality, which, he argues, remains overwhelmingly rejected by the Ghanaian populace.
The Independence Square, the MP said, is not just a historical landmark but a “divinely sanctified ground” representing Ghana’s spiritual journey to freedom — a space that must be protected from actions he believes degrade its significance.
Renewed Calls for Passage of Anti-LGBTQ+ Law
Ekow Assafuah’s letter also serves as a political nudge to President Mahama, reminding him of earlier promises made to religious institutions — including the Christian Council and the Catholic Bishops Conference — to support and sign into law the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill if elected president.
“Promises must now give way to bold action,” the MP asserted.
The bill, which criminalizes LGBTQ+ activities and seeks to outlaw advocacy for non-heteronormative sexual identities, was passed by Parliament last year but has yet to receive presidential assent amid constitutional challenges and international pressure.
Ekow Assafuah challenged the President to show moral leadership by swiftly backing the legislation. “If Parliament and the Executive could pass the Dumsor Levy under a certificate of urgency, surely the moral defence of this country deserves the same urgency—if not more,” he wrote.
While the MP’s message was political, it was also deeply emotive and couched in religious undertones.
He framed his plea as a call to safeguard the soul of Ghana.
“This moment is not political. It is spiritual. It is about the soul of Ghana,” he emphasized, urging President Mahama to act not just as head of state but as a guardian of national morality.
He ended the letter with a prayer: “May God bless you with courage. And may God bless our beloved Ghana.”
National Debate Intensifies
The issue has sparked heated national discourse over the intersection of LGBTQ+ rights, freedom of expression, and Ghana’s cultural values.
While human rights activists defend the right to self-expression and inclusion, many conservative groups have criticized public demonstrations of LGBTQ+ identity, especially at culturally significant sites.
