TALKING DRUM: Of the protesting law students & Nana Addo’s attack dogs!

Protesting law students hold placards 

Before the protesting law students embarked on their demonstration, speeches upon speeches were read by some executives of their front. Prominent among these speeches— in my view— was that by the President of the National Association of Law Students, Nii Adokwei Cudjoe.

Mr. Adokwei had not only charged his students to remain steadfast to their course of protesting for reforms in the country’s legal education but that they should vehemently resist the oppressor’s rule.

President, National Association of Law Students, Nii Adokwei Cudjoe addressing the protesters. Photo Credit: Writer

"History will remember you. Do not think what you are doing [the demonstration] is in vain? We have come to the crossroads and your boldness is a statement. We are not here hiding our faces. If we keep singing the National Anthem but do not live it then whom are we praying to? Resist oppressor's rule," he said.

As if by dint of fate, the protesters later on in their demonstration encountered a situation that demanded they vehemently resist the oppressor’s rule as earlier admonished.

Nonetheless, the protesting law students were as helpless as a tethered he-goat. They could not resist the oppressor— at that moment— being the Ghana Police Service and not the Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo.

Just about a stone throw from the Liberation Road, the direction from the Ako Adjei Overpass towards the Jubilee House in Accra, heavily armed police men and women numbering close to 20 or more confronted the protesting students.

This was on Monday, October 7, 2019 when the students had walked peacefully from the very entrance of the Ghana School of Law, using the Atta Mills Highstreet to negotiate the curve to walk in front of the High Court Complex through to the ministries to the Office of the Attorney General, to the office of the Ghana Bar Association [close to the Ghana Institute of Journalism] and finally headed to the Jubilee House where they were stopped on the Liberation Road.

I must state that I followed the protesters from the beginning of the journey till they met the police who used force on them. In all honesty, doing my job as a journalist on that day, reporting for Media General’s radio stations [3FM and Onua FM], I never saw the protesters showing any sign of aggression at any point. They didn’t pose danger to pedestrians/motorists or whoever came their way.

It was at the Office of the Attorney General that the students ambushed the vehicle of the Deputy AG, Godfred Dame. Here, I never saw any student raising a hand to hit his vehicle or whatsoever. The ambushing of Mr. Dame’s vehicle was just understandable in the given situation of a protest where the students needed nothing but the man taking their petition so they could leave.

This, when I later read a concocted account by the Ghana Police Service on the students’ demonstration, I pitied this country called Ghana. A law enforcement entity having a penchant for telling lies to save itself from atrocities committed is more dangerous than a mentally derailed man wielding a gun!

Portions of the said statement read: “They then headed towards Jubilee House and on reaching King Tackie Tawiah/[Ako Adjei] Overpass, they sat in the middle of the road and pelted the Police with stones and offensive weapons. In the process, police sprayed cold water and fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.”

To put it succinctly, it was not until the police prevented the students from marching to the Jubilee House that their leaders told them to sit down on the road. They did not just sit upon reaching there! Even this, Mr. Adokwei had pleaded with his members to occupy one lane of the road so approaching vehicles could have their way. The students eventually obliged.

Some students sit on the Liberation Road that leads to the Jubilee House. Photo Credit: Solomon Mensah

Again, no protesting student threw even a grain of gari at any police officer as the police claimed receiving pelted stones. If the police have evidence to this effect— being pelted with stones and others— then I dare them to bring forth such to counter some of us who followed the protest with rapt attention.

Rather annoyingly, it was the police who fired over 10 warning shots [into the air], fired rubber bullets [leading to a cameraman with Yen.com sustaining injuries] and aggressively using its water cannons on the students.

For those students who showed sign of resistance, they were hauled and manhandled like expired goods and shoved into police trucks.

Police hauls protester into truck. Photo Credit: Solomon Mensah

Observing the gloomy mood of the armed police, one would have thought that perhaps Boko Haram had invaded our country. So, it was sickening seeing the level of force used against a group of harmless protesters.

If the police had employed these heavily armed officers in the case of the Takoradi missing girls, I am certain we would have had a better story to tell of the girls. But, they remained adamant because they feared for their lives to confront the kidnappers [one of them is their own who aided the prime suspect to ‘break jail’] and now would annoyingly show their muscles on the protesting law students.

On the day of the protest, I spoke off camera to an officer of the Accra Regional Police Command who was at the scene of the police’s use of force. His account to me and what I subsequently heard the Director of Public Affairs at the Ghana Police Service, ASP David Eklu, narrate to 3FM News tell that the police merely acted as puppets of some persons within the Jubilee House on that fateful Monday.

Of a truth, the police’s account on why they stopped the protesters does not make sense. That, they did not approve the said demonstration. Meanwhile, the leadership of the students and the police had met about five days before the demonstration as they [leaders] submitted a letter of the protest detailing their route and what have you.

This, ASP David Eklu admits in the 3FM interview with morning show host, Winston Amoah, that they [police] had sent a separate letter of cancelation to the students but it could not reach them until the very morning of the day earmarked for the demonstration.

So, the police in its wisdom expected the students to call off their demonstration when they had made arrangements including buses, with other students from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in the Ashanti Region and those from the University of Cape Coast all on their way to Accra to protest?

Again, if the police say the protest was illegal, why did they not stop the students from embarking it in the first place when they [police] were at the Ghana School of Law in the morning?

Clearly, it suggests that all is not well with the Ghana Police Service. Their inability to take sound decisions on their own often stupefies their front and this is true in their use of unnecessary force on the law students.

If you have a president who ‘cleared’ police officers mentioned for wrongdoings by the Emile Short Commission that probed the Ayawaso by election fracas, then you expect nothing but emboldening some of our police wo/men to wallow in their stupidity. Are these officers not ‘attack dogs’!?

Away from the police and their day of shame, I only think that the demands of the law students are genuine and all and sundry must join them in their ‘fight’ for reforms in the country’s legal education.

Does it make sense that a student having ‘Cs’ in three [3] subjects is said to have failed all other subjects even if they had say ‘As’ in the rest? Does it make sense that a student seeking to resit a failed paper is obliged to pay ₵3000? So, if you failed three papers you pay ₵9000 for resit! Are the resit papers questions set by God?

Why are students writing the contested entrance examination into the Ghana School of Law obliged to sign a bond/undertaking? Speaking to some of the protesters, I chastised them for signing such a document. No matter the explanation the students give, I think people being trained to be lawyers must not sign such an undertaking that forbids them from protesting if they failed the entrance examination.  

If one of America’s celebrated journalists, Amy Goodman, was right when she said, “Go to where the silence is and say something”, then this is the time for you [reading this piece] to say something in the face of powers-that-be going cold on the students’ demand.

The study of law— a prestigious profession— must not be made to seem in Ghana as though one is studying the nature and origin of the mysterious beings in heaven. The charcoal seller’s child must equally have access to the Ghana School of Law as has the crooked politician’s child.

The writer is a broadcast journalist with Media General [TV3/3FM]. Views expressed herein are solely his, and do not, in anyway, reflect the editorial policy of his organisation whatsoever.

Email: nehusthan@yahoo.com

Twitter: @aniwaba

TALKING DRUM: Killing our officers, must we not challenge Amnesty Int’l Ghana whitewashing criminals?

Ghana Police Service. Photo Source: Culled from the internet

Just when I had ordered my banku at an eatery somewhat opposite the Afrikiko Restaurant in Accra, I had a call from the office. It was my colleague, Silvia Akorfa [Miss AK], calling with 3FM’s landline.

“Hey, Solomon where are you?” she asked.

Before I could tell her I was outside the premises of 3FM/TV3 for lunch, she pulled the breaks on me forcing me to swallow my words.

“Someone by name Patrick just called in from Liberia Camp enclave near Kasoa. He says some suspected armed robbers have shot dead a police officer and injured another,” continued Ms AK.

I quickly scripted a lead [the story] on my phone and dropped it on the newsroom’s WhatsApp page with the eyewitness’ contact attached. My Managing News Editor at Media General – Matilda Haynes – had a private chat with me.

“Please, try and get to the office. This is journalism,” she replied when I told her I was about eating. As the order came, I quickly dashed to 3FM’s studios to break the news. That was how I was immediately affected by the painful death of the police officer whom we later got to know went by the name Sergeant Michael Dzamesi.

Sgt. Dzamesi did not receive the fire alone. His colleague officer was involved, too. Lance Corporal Mohammed Awal, in a widely circulated social media video, had tried rushing for medical attention after being hit by the bullets. Apparently, confused bystanders had assisted him mount the back seat of a motorbike. He is seen slapping the hand of the rider to speed up; he was dying slowly of the bullet wounds!

As the motorbike sped off, voices are heard [according to the video] crying that Mohammed Awal was likely to fall off. To cut a long story short, the young man could not stand the bullet wounds. He passed on, too! This was on Wednesday, August 28 2019.

If for the temporary pangs of hunger I felt it so hard leaving my food to go report on that breaking news ─ as journalism takes no excuses but results ─ then can the dependents of these officers contain their ‘hunger’ for the years ahead? News reports suggest that both Sgt. Michael Dzamesi and Lance Corporal Mohammed were breadwinners of their respective families.

In 2019 alone, in a matter of barely a month, five police officers’ lives have been agonizingly taken by criminals.

Corporal Agatha Nana Nabin with the Northern Regional Police Command was, on July 30, shot dead at a police checkpoint. We are told it was on the Tamale-Kumbungu road in the Sagnarigu District.

August 19 announced the death of Corporal Bernard Antwi. The 37-year old was with the Manso Nkwanta Divisional Command in the Ashanti region.

Corporal Antwi was found dead at Manso Abodom in the Amansie West District of the region. News reports suggest he died after working hours.

Akyem Swedru Police Station’s General Lance Corporal Alhassan Asare also died on August 20. The incident which happened at the Dukes Fuel Station, in the Eastern region, had it that the 35-year old man had his rifle in between his thighs at the time of his death. What is not clear is whether he [mistakenly] shot himself or someone shot him.

Is it not heartbreaking that your husband or wife, sister or brother says goodbye to you in the morning that they are going to work and that they would be back only to hear they are no more? They are no more because someone decided to take their life!

This, the Amnesty International Ghana says we must respect the human rights of such criminals by not killing them in return. So, for many months now, the human rights organization has called on President Akufo Addo, the Attorney General and other stakeholders to expunge the death penalty sentence in Ghana's legal system.

If you care to know, Amnesty International Ghana actually wants the death penalty totally abolished from our laws by close of this year.

“Ghana has not executed anybody in the last ten years and it is believed to have established a practice of not carrying out executions. Although no official moratorium executions are in place, Ghana has not carried out an execution since 1993. Twenty countries in sub-Saharan Africa have already abolished the death penalty for all crimes; seven of which are in West Africa,” said the Director of Amnesty International Ghana, Robert Akoto Amoafo, at the launch of the Global Death Penalty Report. So was it captured by the news portal, Modern Ghana, in April 2019.

What irks me is Mr. Amoafo’s reiterated position that killing the law court’s certified criminals amounts to denying them their human rights.

“This is clear evidence that all countries in ECOWAS have abolished the death penalty in one way or another. The time is right for Ghana to join the league of abolitionist countries in Africa and the world by abolishing death penalty for all crimes. Let us all remember that death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights and simply does not deter crime in any way.”

Can I ask the Amnesty International Ghana if those the criminals killed had no human rights? I do not, in any way, oppose the operations of the human rights organization. But, when we embolden criminals this way, then I cannot help but speak up.

Is Robert Akoto Amoafo saying death penalty does not deter crime in any way? Well, he is not alone holding on to this assertion. Recently, I argued with a friend on same as he said if such punishment works, America would have been crime-free. My simple answer to him was that America’s crime rate stemmed from stupidity.

As I write this piece, August 31^st, I have had notification on my phone from the BBC. It says, “A mass random shooting in the Texas city of Odessa has left ‘multiple gunshot victims’.” You cannot make the purchasing of guns as simple as one buying tomatoes from the Mallam Market – in Accra – and expect a sane society!

Commenting on the arrest of the crime suspect in the killing of the two police officers at Kasoa, security analyst Adib Saani, rather made a stern case that criminals must be shown the exit point of this world, too.

“A clear signal would also have to be sent, at least, to deter them [criminals] from towing the same line [committing murder]. And, I’m saying that – look – the legal regime would have to change so killing our officers would be tantamount to crimes against the state which invariably attracts death penalty,” Mr. Adib said in a TV3 interview.  

Indeed, Ghana could be a sane society as Japan if we would let common sense lead in how people get access to guns, deal with persons who abuse the use of such guns and shun Amnesty International Ghana’s hot air.

I must, however, add that if anyone mistakenly kills – manslaughter ─ then we could respect the human rights of such persons [killers] by sparing them to live on. We are all fallible as humans. But, my point is, our fallibility plays no role when we internationally perpetrate malice!

The writer is a broadcast journalist with Media General [TV3/3FM]. Views expressed herein are solely his, and do not, in anyway, reflect the editorial policy of his organisation whatsoever.

Email: nehusthan@yahoo.com

Twitter: @aniwaba

  

TALKING DRUM: 37 years a journalist, the incredible tale of the man who ruled the airwaves!

Retired broadcaster, Teye Kitcher

Every June 4^th, Jerry John Rawlings’ 1979 coup in Ghana inspired by his Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) readily comes to mind. This year, as in previous years, the story was not different. I knew nothing substantial in history― worldwide― that occurred on the aforementioned date than Rawlings’ coup.

Then, in the afternoon, as I watched Aljazeera, I heard something that was totally new to me. The anchor mentioned Tiananmen and that it was a protest which happened in Beijing, China, in 1989. The news report said many people died in that protest. After I had watched the news report, I sought to find out more about this mass death in history.

“The Tiananmen Square protests, commonly known in mainland China as the June Fourth Incident, were student-led demonstrations held in Tiananmen Square in Beijing during 1989. In what became known as the Tiananmen Square Massacre, troops with assault rifles and tanks fired at the demonstrators and those trying to block the military’s advance into Tiananmen Square. Estimates of the death toll vary from several hundreds to thousands,” so is it captured by Wikipedia.

Journalist Adrian Brown reports on the Tiananmen Massacre in 1989 

Whereas I was thrilled to have learnt something new, what really got me excited was the Aljazeera reporter who filed the story from Beijing on the 30th anniversary of the protests. The reporter was Adrian Brown – a foreign correspondent in Beijing – and as if by design, he was the same reporter who covered the demonstration and subsequent massacre 30 years ago.

Adrian Brown recounts the Tiananmen Massacre

Adrian Brown and his Tiananmen reports make me miss many Ghanaian journalists currently on retirement. One of such persons who readily comes to mind is Teye Kitcher who proceeded on retirement from Ghana Broadcasting Corporation [GBC] few weeks ago. For me, journalists must not retire, especially when they are strong and healthy and so much on top of their business.

Born to Mr. Joseph Richard Wentum-Kitcher from Osu and Ada and Vida Mercy Wentum-Kitcher of Sempe, all in the Greater Accra Region and Saltpond, Central Region, the then little Teye Kitcher began his education at the Osu Presbyterian Boys Primary School in 1965.

“I attended the Ada Foah Presbyterian Boys Middle Boarding School from 1970 to 1973. I thereafter attended the Ada Secondary School and then Ghana Institute of Journalism [GIJ]. I studied Diploma in Journalism and completed in 1981. Luck smiled on me as I got to start work at GBC on 7th of April 1982 till I retired this year on the 7th of July,” Mr. Kitcher tells me in a WhatsApp chat.

A whopping 37 years of service to mother Ghana as a journalist!? Incredible! I got to personally know Mr. Teye Kitcher when we sat in the same lecture hall at GIJ for a degree in journalism. That was in 2014/16. Nonetheless, I had heard his soothingly deep voice on Radio Ghana as far away as Wamfia in the Bono Region when I served as a mentee during my third year at the Berekum College of Education in 2010.

Teye Kitcher’s voice and fantastic pronunciations of words in the English Language urged one to listen to the news whenever he presented it no matter how badly one wanted to switch the radio dial.

“About 15 years of my time at GBC was spent as a correspondent at the Castle, Osu, during the time of former President Jerry John Rawlings. I began work at the Castle at the rank of a reporter; the lowest rank in the newsroom,” he narrated.

“My work at the Castle took me to places as far as Newfoundland; as far west of the world to Los Angeles; as far east as Brunei and as far south as New Zealand,” he continued.

He tells me that while he so much enjoyed his job as a journalist working in the newsroom and later as a presidential press corps member – flying to countries around the globe – that joy was punctuated with shock and pain at a point.

“My most challenging assignment was during the coverage of the Kokomba-Nanumba-Dagomba conflict in the 90s,” he said sending me an emoji depicting his painful experience. Mr. Kitcher says the coverage of the conflict was very much challenging for him mainly because of the weight of emotional strain it had on him.

“I had never seen so much destruction and deaths in all my life. Solo, trust me! I left the Castle 6th January, 2001. I came back to the newsroom to assume the role of Shift Leader. I later produced and presented Ghana Today – a news magazine program. I went on to become a supervisor and retired as Head of News.”

Without exaggerating issues, whoever listened to the retired broadcaster present Ghana Today on Radio Ghana would attest he lifted the stories out of his scripts, making it hard for listeners to switch to Focus on Africa [on BBC radio] which aired at the same time – 1500GMT.

“The time is three o’clock and this is Ghana Today where we bring you reports from our correspondents across the country,” his introduction would go. His style of questioning whenever he engaged his correspondents was spectacular.

This aside, another news segment Mr. Kitcher fronted was the Major News Bulletin at 1pm on radio. It was always a delight to hear this amazing broadcaster read scripts on News Commentary [a segment on the news].

Undoubtedly, here is a man full of rich experience as a journalist. Must such a person retire from journalism because he is 60 years old when he could actively be a walking institution in the GBC newsroom?

I am an ardent viewer of Aljazeera and, I perhaps think, I know all of the station’s reporters and correspondents. Talk of the old but active Mike Hanna who reports from Washington DC in the United States, Adrian Brown from Beijing, from Pakistan Kamal Hyder and Diplomatic Editor, James Bays, among others. Watching these phenomenal journalists is such a pleasure. This is because it is not about them being old but being full of rich experience as they have done what they do repeatedly.

I believe that we need such experienced folks in every newsroom to help shape affairs. I am not, in anyway, suggesting that the young folks are not on top of their job. The point, however, is that there are some old folks whose knowledge the young crop of journalists earnestly need to better their trade.

I am sure you have heard of TV3’s Stephen Anti of News@10 fame, right? Truth be told, the likes of Stephen Antis and Teye Kitchers drive the news. I have produced the former for over three years now on 3FM [92.7] as he reads the then Newshour [at 6pm] now Hot Edition [at 5:30pm].

Stephan Anti – though not overly old – is that type of a newsreader or anchor who basically needs no scripts or prepared questions. Yes! Just get him the microphone and it is as if he was destined to do what he does.

A mention could also be made of the former GBC newsreader, Mercy Sowah. Although I never have met her before, having monitored her from afar – via radio – aside her overly soothing voice, I could tell that GBC had a treasure that it perhaps never knew.

I understand that GBC has been engaging its men and women on retirement to teach at its training school. This, I must say, is commendable and must be continued. We must tap the experiences of the doyens.

Anyway, did you know that the man whose news reading gift you so much enjoyed never wanted to be a journalist? Interesting!

“My earlier interest was in architecture. I was, however, encouraged to pursue journalism by my big brother, Paul,” he tells me. Fate, indeed, has a way of turning around things in our lives.

Mr. Kitcher says he is much grateful to all and sundry, especially his listeners, who made his career a success. He hints that there are three people who, however, were very instrumental in his professional career as a journalist.

“My professional life was shaped by three Johns. John Nyankuma, a former Head of News [at GBC] who taught me all I know about broadcast writing; Johnnie Ashie Kotei, one time Head of Programming at GBC and my father-in-law who taught me presentation skills; and Jerry John Rawlings who mentored me in critical thinking.”

Mr. Kitcher is today thanking persons who shaped his life but, probably, little does he know that he has himself shaped many lives, especially people he directly worked with.

“He was my boss who later became my friend. He was a boss-friend who knew how and where to draw the lines between professionalism and friendship. He also knew how and when to combine the two to get the best out of me,” says Abdul Hayi Moomen, one of the celebrated broadcasters in the country, to me in a WhatsApp chat.

“I would miss his friendly but stern and strict nature― fair but firm. He was one person who was passionate about seeing the state broadcaster take back its place as the pacesetter of broadcasting in Ghana― and for that, I will miss him. This is because I share the same sentiments. In his absence, there’s almost no one left to look up to,” he adds.

For Nana Achia Aboagye, also at GBC, Mr. Teye Kitcher is a role model who keeps inspiring her even when he is out there on retirement.

“I consider him my father and I was fortunate to have sat in the same classroom/lecture hall with him at GIJ. He’s such a wonderful figure whom I look up to in my career. He has been my source of inspiration since day one,” she said.

“Mr. Kitcher is very knowledgeable, humble and affable. What I miss about him is his jovial nature. He plays with everyone in the office. He doesn’t discriminate at all. He appreciates and respects everyone,” Ms. Aboagye intimates.

If it is the case that the retired broadcaster never received any award or citation, I do not consider such a big deal. I have always told my close friends that the best award in the world is giving other people [and even animals] the reason to live and this has been confirmed by Mr. Moomen and Nana Achia.

Mr. Kitcher is 60 years old but, mind you, he did not retire on a ‘simple note’. He bagged Masters in Communication Studies, majoring in Media Management, from GIJ in 2017. You can only wait to see him lecture in a communication/journalism school near you as he is currently doing so at the Wisconsin University College in Accra. All said and done, however, let the broadcaster’s passion for excellence and higher heights in education motivate you to achieve that dream. It is never too late to be that wo/man in the mirror in front of you!

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

Sports Obama quits Atinka TV, remarries ‘old wife’ – Angel FM

Saddick Adams, the Sports Obama. Photo source: Culled from the internet

Aniwaba.com gathers that one of Ghana’s celebrated sports journalists, Saddick Adams popularly known as the Sports Obama, has left Atinka TV/FM and is headed for the Angel Broadcasting Network, operators of Angel FM [102.9] and Angel TV with over 20 other radio stations in the country.

This comes as the award-winning journalist has selflessly worked with the Atinka Media Village group for almost 5 years, uplifting the media house’s standard of sports shows.

“I believe he has by now signed and sealed his new deal with Angel FM/TV and you would be hearing/seeing him soon,” the source who pleaded anonymity said.

Aniwaba.com has since placed calls to the journalist for confirmation but to no avail.

Sports Obama before joining the Atinka Media Village had worked with a radio station of the Angel Broadcasting Network in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

Source: Solomon Mensah/Aniwaba.com

TALKING DRUM: The Methodist Church, homosexuality & ‘The Boy Called A Girl’

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