It was a huge magnitude
of confusion that rocked not only the Methodist Church of Ghana but Christians
and others in Ghana and, perhaps, Africa as a whole when the Methodist Church,
UK, said it had [technically] approved same sex marriage.
“The bird,” our elders
say, “has no business worrying itself over a collapsed bridge.” If it is a
section of the world that has legalized homosexuality and same sex marriage for
that matter, one would have thought that Christians had no business worrying
themselves contemplating as to whether to indulge in the practice or not. Is
that not so?
Nonetheless, that was not the case as the Methodist Church, UK, made it somewhat hard for its branch in Ghana concerning the issue of homosexuality.
Indeed, last week, all
eyes were on the Methodist Church of Ghana. Many were the observers who
patiently waited to hear whether the church here would approve their UK fellows’
stance on homosexuality.
So, eventually, it
happened that the issue was trashed and confided in the museum of history. The
Methodist Church in Ghana, at a press conference, said that even if the country
[Ghana] legalized same sex marriage, it would not bless such a union.
The issue of
homosexuality has now become so topical and gained overwhelming support –
worldwide – that many fear making their stance on it known publicly. If you
speak against it, you are branded as homophobic. Again, speak against
homosexuality and you are likely to be blacklisted and denied visa to countries
that say they are upholding human rights. On the flip side, if you speak in
favor of homosexuality, you are hailed as if you just won a lottery!
Sincerely, in my
opinion, homosexuality should – ordinarily – not be an issue that deserves
anyone’s precious time for a second on deliberating on whether to legalize it
or not. It is a total NO!
Recently, I wrote a
lengthy article in which I called on my President, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo
Addo, to legalize marijuana.
The said article titled,
“Mr. President, unu wan mi fi tell unu legalize ganja?” got many insulting me.
Many of these persons who insulted me – I later realized – never bothered
reading what I wrote. They insulted me based on the headline. In that article,
I gave research-based evidence on why – if possible – every country must
legalize marijuana but restrict their citizens from abusing it as we see in
Israel.
I, hereby, want to read
from proponents of homosexuality on their reasons why they say we must at all
cost legalize man-to-man and woman-to-woman marriage/relationships. Based on
human right? If yes, I do not also have the [human] right to be an armed robber
or smoke my marijuana?
In 2015, I lived at
Spintex and worked at Abelemkpe; all in the Greater Accra region. I had always
commuted to work by bus [trotro] until I decided to board a train one day.
On one busy morning
when I got to the train station at Adogono at Spintex, a gentleman walked to
me.
“I like your red
shirt,” he said.
“Thanks,” I replied.
“I am a photographer and
makeup artist. I like good colors,” said the stranger.
“I see.”
“So, what do you do?”
“I’m a pressman.”
“Can I have your
contact, please? I would be glad you publish a story for me.”
As soon as he got my
contact, he sent a ‘hi’ on WhatsApp. We were far apart in the packed train so
he engaged me on the social media platform till I got down at Abelemkpe.
Daniel, the name he
mentioned to me, initially proved to be genuinely interested in my work – journalism.
He wanted to publish some of his supposed pictures in the media.
Then, within two days,
this man was inviting me to his house.
“Hi Solomon, when are you
visiting me?”
“Visit you? Like how,
boss?”
“I’m inviting you to my
house. Come and see my place.”
“I see; it will be nice
knowing your house but I don’t have time for myself. I will let you know when
I’m less busy,” I replied his WhatsApp messages.
All along, it never
crossed my mind Daniel had a hidden agenda.
“Hey, good morning.
Since you are that busy, can I visit you instead?”
“Sorry boss, may I know
why you are bent on visiting?” I replied.
“Do you live alone?” he
ignored my question and asked me one instead.
When I told him I lived
with a friend, Edward Balami, he was disappointed and would want me visit him
instead. I said to myself, “This guy must be crazy!” True to my word he sent me
the bombshell.
“You are handsome. Can
you make love to me?”
I cringed at the
message. In ‘their world’, he is a female and wanted me to make love to him.
Really? When there are many God-created women around?
I blocked him [or
should I say her?] on WhatsApp and deleted the contact. But hey, that was not
all. About three years ago too, a young guy sent me a message on Facebook. My
personal resolution is not to look down on any human being whether rich or
poor; a child or an adult. So, I would usually give people who need my
attention some time.
To my surprise, this young
guy [per his profile picture, if that was him] started praising me on how
handsome I am and how he liked my pink lips. Then, he also dropped the
bombshell. He wanted to make love to me. He was a “he” and needed a “she”. At
this instance, I understood why some ladies ignore men who pressure them for
love.
I was so annoyed but
something told me to speak softly to him. I told him that I think he needed
prayers and that I would remember him in mine. He needed to cut short his
desire for his fellow man.
My third experience
with gays was just last year. He was a “she” and was dying over me because I am
handsome. Here was a man saying to his fellow man that he had monitored me for
long and that he admired how I dress, too.
One of my closest lady
friends discerned and advised that I ignore him. I indeed did.
On Saturday, July 20,
2019, a very good friend of mine – named Kobina Ansah – had his latest stage
play shown at the National Theatre in Accra. The play titled The Boy Called A Girl had Pastor Ronny naming
his son Ewura – a name for ladies/girls.
The man of God who
doubled as a counselor badly needed a daughter that he prayed to God for such.
Luck, however, eluded him. A male child was born onto him. He did everything to
get the son to behave as a girl.
Pastor Ronny [right front] at a workout session with his clients |
The man of God operated
Ronny’s Dance Factory where people with
pressing issues came for counselling. Nonetheless, he himself could not resolve
the animosity he had towards Ewura, leading to the solitude life his son lived.
Not even Ewura’s mother could intervene for peace to reign in their home. Vulnerable
Ewura fell in the hands of a ‘good Samaritan’― Pastor Ronny’s senior pastor.
Unknown to them, Bishop Akpanya was gay who forced to have sex with Ewura and
that was how the boy called a girl found himself having preference for his
fellow men.
From left, Ewura and 'her' friend Adez [Pastor Ronny's Secretary] |
I have heard many
proponents of gay rights say that those in the trade were born with it. Kobina
Ansah’s play – though fiction laced with life’s facts – tells that some
homosexuals are in the trade due to their upbringing. For those who perhaps
genuinely have natural inclination for their fellow sex mates, lawyer Moses
Foh-Amoaning has an answer for you.
“Caster Semenya we know
is a South African female runner. Now, because she is a female but has a
dominant hormone of testosterone (male hormones), she’s got more power. The
International Athletics Association has told her to take the necessary medical
steps to reduce the amount of testosterone to normal female level. Does this
not tell you that there is a solution to those who said they were born
homosexuals?” the lawyer at the forefront of persons kicking against
legalization of homosexuality told Stephen Anti on Hot Edition on 3FM last
week.
Before God and man –
without being a hypocrite – I cannot claim to be a saint. But, aside playing
the religious card, homosexuality does not sit well with me. The truth is, I
cannot keep my opinion on this particular issue to myself when others want it
[homosexuality] imposed on my country. And again, I cannot keep mute for the
fear of being denied visa or branded homophobic.
This does not, however,
suggest we must hate homosexuals or attack them. Far from that. I think that
rather they need our love and prayers and hopefully things might change for
them.
Anyway, if you should
push me to sum my lengthy talk in a sentence, I would say that I gladly would
be polygamous than sleep with my fellow man. Sex is between a man and a woman!
The writer is a
broadcast journalist with TV3/3FM. Views expressed here are solely his and do
not, in anyway, reflect the editorial policy of his organization.
Email: nehusthan4@yahoo.com
Twitter: @aniwaba