lgbt people in ghana are to boycott the polls in december

By Victor Mkhize

September 14, 2004: For the very first time the LGBT people of Ghana are standing up against discrimination, and ill treatment they get from their community because of their sexual orientation. It has been reported that if you're gay in Ghana you're then treated as an outcast and so called straight people can do whatever they like and they even beat you up just because you're gay. In some instances when gay men get infected by sexually transmitted infections (STI's) they are asked to bring their partners with, of which in their case it is quite impossible because their partners are gay men and that may result in their arrest.

Even in places delivering health services like hospitals, gay people are not treated with respect. When LGBT people go to the hospital they do not get proper treatment like other citizens of Ghana. The other problem that is faced by the LGBT people in Ghana is, when they seek political asylum in other countries their (Ghanaian) Embassies always deny them getting it .Government officials always say "gay men are not punished in Ghana".

Even though the Ghanaian Constitution of 1992 says "Every Ghanaian has the right to associate with any group or organization of your choice and that there should be no discrimination based on sex, gender, religion and tribe". Clearly LGBT people are discriminated from enjoying the same right as that of any Ghanaian citizen.

The Criminal Code of Ghana has not changed since colonization, there are no new laws drafted, implying that sex between two men is illegal. Rather it states that such action is "unnatural" and when caught you are sentenced to imprisonment. A large number of LGBT people are in jail in Ghana because of their sexual orientation; on the other hand gay people are dying of HIV/AIDS and will continue dying because they are not visible. The government is not prepared to take them seriously. This is the reason they will be boycotting the elections in December 2004. The Ghanaian LGBT people feel that they are being treated unfairly by their government yet they are good law abiding citizens, they do not steal or kill anyone they are being crucified only for their sexual orientation.

Below is the original letter as written to the BBC by the President of the lgbt organization of Ghana:

Dear BBC,

LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexuals) people in Ghana to boycott December polls

This is our first letter to you to introduce our selves to you as gays/ lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people living in Ghana. We as gays, lesbians, bisexuals in Ghana have our rights in our constitution. We are discriminated upon because our sexual orientation and no one dare talks for us. The police beat and punish people who are found to be gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender person. In our communities when found, you are treated as an outcast or lowered to beatings from people who call themselves straight. When we get an infection, we are asked to provide our partners before treatment. How can I provide my male partner in such a bad environment?

Since gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender lifestyle is criminalized in the criminal code of Ghana, The Ghana criminal code states that sexual offenses article 105, states that "whoever is guilty of unnatural carnal knowledge - (a) of any person without his consent is guilty of first decree felony, or (b) of any person with his consent or of any animal, is guilty of a misdemeanor" this law, a relic of repressive British sodomy laws, groups homosexuality with bestiality, assault and rape, and brings a minimum misdemeanor charge for gay activity.

Our people leave the hospital disappointed and go to drug stores for a drug they think will help with their problem or see a friend for what he / she uses to cure his / her sickness. This make us feel as if we are second class citizen in our own country.

In some cases, the drug stores will also ask you to go back to the hospitals for treatment you continue to suffer till you find a way to deal with your sickness or situation. Our embassies outside in the states keep deporting Ghanaians saying "gay men are not punished in Ghana".

Even though the 1992 constitution of Ghana, also offer every Ghanaian the rights to associate with any group or organization of your choice and that there should be no discrimination base on sex, gender, religion, tribe etc. This does not work for us.

Our criminal code which was written during the British rule in Ghana is still the same. It has no new or modernized laws. Even though its does not say it's illegal for a man to have sex to man nor the vice versa clearly, its states that such action is "unnatural" and when caught, you will be sentenced to prison. Now, there are lots and lots of people in our prison home who have been caught by this unfriendly law.

On the other hand, Most my colleagues too are dying from the deadly HIV- AIDS unnoticed. We have no treatment access when sick. The doctors are not gay / lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender friendly. We believe we can't wait any more for treatment for our people now!!!!. Its election time and the president or the other political parties will not say because we are gay / lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender, we should not vote. When they win, they forget we voted for them. They don't say because we are gay / lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender, we should not pay taxes but we pay and do every thing as good citizens. We are not criminals. We don't kill, we don't steal, we are not lawless, the only difference is our sexual orientation.

What we have decided doing is to only vote for the political party that has a policy to see to our sexual health needs.

We are Ghanaians and need treatments now!!!!

No policy for our health, No votes!!!!

No treatment, No Votes!!!!

We want the policy to be touching on issues such as:

• Care and Support
• Peer Education
• Advocacy
• IEC Material
• Condom / lubricant Distribution
• Capacity Building
• Counseling

We hope this will be read for the world to come our aid in Ghana

Thanks for reading and God Bless.

Yours in the struggle,

Prince MacDonald
Leader- President
Gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals of Ghana
Teshie - Nungua Estate,
Accra - Ghana.