It all started when I stumbled across a Ghanaian gay website [I found it educational, informative and inoffensive] –and read a piece about scams involving young Ghanaian boys [If you know me –you'll know that I cannot leave it there]……and I found myself following every lead/thread offered by said website concerning these scams. And all I can say is –as with all progress –there will be crime, setbacks and all sorts of big problems folks –and Ghana is the same….
My investigations lead me to gay websites; gayscam websites, how-not-be-conned-by-Ghanaians websites –and importantly, to facebook and Hi5 –where many of these scammers had accounts. I would like to take this opportunity to make a few things clear. I am pro life -and believe that you must ‘live–and-let-live’. Secondly, I hate -hate, homophobia and judgmental people –and cannot abide by hypocrisy, - and thirdly, we Ghanaians must accept that –it takes every kind of people to make this world happen –and that gay people exit in Ghana!
...The leads/threads lead to various young [some very young looking] Ghanaian boys’s accounts on various gay websites; where they claimed to be looking for love and friendship etc with men [and I’m sure some are genuine] –then further leads/threads -lead to websites that gave comprehensive accounts of scams that allegedly involved some of these boys. On these so called scam websites some went as far as sharing the facebook and Hi5 accounts details of these scammers –so I followed –and what transpired was so sad/shocking –but insightful.
And so Ghana Rising would like to ask Ghana gals……do you really know your boyfriend [especially those living in Christian Village, Ghana]? Is he really straight –or is he like a growing number of boys on Facebook –sleeping with old European men for money?….Is he one of the many straight boys who are on various gay websites around the world –looking for love and [419] friendships –but instead …are robbing poor unsuspecting tourists –who may or may not be looking for gay sex on the beaches of Ghana? Or is he straight but is willing to engage in a bit of ‘slap and tickle’ with sex tourists [like a growing number of boys on facebook]? Is he one of those young boys on the facebook showing off his designer clothes, cars, money –and claiming to be interested in women –whilst running around with gangs who sleep with /rob 'Abronis' for money….Because, -whilst gay sex is illegal in Ghana –unsuspecting wives and girlfriends [of closeted gay boys/men]–are at risk from all sorts of STI’s…-and much more -HIV/AIDs..
The answer is not to hate gay boys/men [they are human beings and have a right to a blessed full life] –the answer is tolerance, maybe a constitutional change of law [most definitely for men over 21]; less shame, **for STI clinics to treat gay men with or without their partners….and last but not least –employment for gay men. If Ghana was more tolerant -then gay boys/men would not have to hide and play ‘corner-corner’ –and thus, would not feel the pressure to conform and date/marry women –etc. Also, -I’m guessing that less foreign tourists would be scammed and be exploited by ‘the gay sex scammers’ who are on Facebook and Hi5 -showing off their loot and their sooo called designer clothes [with their boys] etc. The sad thing is –there are real gay boys in Ghana who are vulnerable, at risk –and in danger of exploitation -because of the law, lack of sex education [safe sex etc] –and cannot get treatment for STD’s –….Goodness, this issues is soo complicated –with so many layers –then there is the poverty -compounding and exasperating these explosive issues –even more..
We need: tolerance and change of law [most definitely for men over 21] because Ghana should be a safe and tolerant place –where all its citizens feel free –and not persecuted. I know that there are fears that if Ghana legalize homosexual sex -all hell will break loose; that people will decide to become gay, -that children will be exposed and unduly cohered into becoming homosexuals. People are also fearful that the law will be abused –and children will be vulnerable to pedophiles or pimps –taking advantage of them etc. but surly –if [I’m playing **advocate here] the law states that you must be 21 to legally engage in homosexual sex –then anyone under that age engaging in homosexual would have broken the law –and thus –can then be punished etc. Also, the law will protect children under the age of 21 who are forced/raped etc. What this will mean for Ghana –[lets not forget that Ghana is a third world country and that we have a corrupted police force etc] is that society will have to change, -become more tolerant –lessening the stigma and helping young gay men to feel free.
Change of law will also mean that –many of those closeted married gay men will stop running around -having unprotected sex and thus will stop exposing their unsuspecting wives/girlfriends to STI’s etc. –
Less Shame is so important….because part of the reason [I feel] for the growing number of scams with regards to ‘gay sex scams’ –is the stigma and shame that gay men are made to feel –and thus are driven underground -hiding, ducking and diving –and trying to survive [with many unable to find work –and thus turning to prostitution to eat]. And the criminal elements [within this small group] will result to colluding with arm robbers, corrupt police officers -and other undesirables to make ends meet [or in the case of that young man on facebook –to buy his designer cloths to wear to Henri’s Bar on Friday night]. But mostly, –shame means that many of these young boys have no self esteem, or self love –and thus are willing to do anything [even sleep with strangers from abroad] to survive. And are thus –exploited by these ‘Abronis’ [because they are poor]. But off cause many will argue that these boys are also exploiting the ‘Abronis’ and robbing them–[and that’s also true] –but these desperate ‘Abronis’ choose to leave the comfort of their western home, embark on the ‘journeys-of-their-lives’ to buy sex with these boys …..please, -who in their right mind would do that?
The bottom line is the Law [as I have said before] and…the lack of fair and just employment for gay men [thus prostitution and scamming is on the increase], lack of sexual heath education –lack of STI clinics [the few that do exit refuse to treat gay men without their partners –my goodness ….and off cause its costly to visit these clinics]….God help us.. Stay safe…..x
Thank you for this informative post. Gay sex should not be illegal in Ghana and the age to engage in it should be the same as heterosexual couplings. Mind you whenever gay sex is mentioned women always seem to be left out; women being with women is seen as more tolerable I guess LOL. There needs to be a real social change in Ghana for the rights of LGBT people to be respected and seen as equal. Even in a highly developed country like the US its STILL A MAJOR PROBLEM. We've progressed but it's still not enough. I can only hope that the future generations of LGBT people will not have to deal with this BS!
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