A Ghanaian website has published a scandalous article which implies that the Vice-President of Ghana (Amissah-Arthur) is gay and very active, even to the point of attending LGBT meetings and assuring the gay community that their issues will be addressed once he assumed office.
First of all, I’ve even never heard of the Ghana Gay and Lesbian Forum nor of its National Coordinator. It may just be part of the opposition’s campaign to ‘smear’ him in the eyes of the general public since engaging in homosexual activities is illegal in Ghana.
However, back in the day some gentleman gave an interview to a newspaper during which he intimated that he had an affair with the veep (then Central Bank Governor) – the article didn’t actually mention his name in the article but gave enough of a description that guessing his identity became ridiculously easy. The story made some rounds but died fairly quickly. Two weeks after he was nominated as vice-president, this story resurfaced and during his vetting, he was called to address these rumors when he dismissed fervently (though he never did state explicitly that he wasn’t gay.)
There’s an old proverb that says that “there is no smoke without fire” and putting all these together, it’s certainly possible that he really is gay. Even though I believe that if everyone who is gay came out, it would change the world (for the better), coming out is a personal decision and no one should make that decision for anyone else or force someone else to come out.
Interestingly, a lot of the comments I’ve read so far hover around the idea that a gay man cannot reach such a position in society and that in itself is the reason why the veep CANNOT be gay. I’m trying to understand how educated people could reach such conclusion and I’m failing. I do hope that in the coming election the Ghanaian people base their opinions on what the man has done for the country rather than whoever he is sleeping with in the privacy of his bedroom.
Read the article in question here: Vice President Must Not Be Ashamed of Being Gay
Purple Gloves 
manleben
October 16, 2012 at 6:35 pm
Some times I wonder about the educated masses in Ghana too. My parents still think being gay is a “western invention”. They usually claim that “no African in his right mind will be gay”. I look at them and I die on the inside.
Le sigh
D.C.
October 17, 2012 at 12:12 am
Le sigh indeed. Recently I had a conversation with an extended family member who believes gays should be beaten up until the spirit of homosexuality leaves. We really have a long way to go..
Clare Flourish
October 16, 2012 at 6:50 pm
Mmm. Peter Tatchell, gay activist in Britain, outed some British gay politicians. His criterion was if they publicly condemned gay behaviour, their own should be publicised. But that was long after gay sex became legal here.
Wouldn’t it be good if it were true, and he were elected?
D.C.
October 17, 2012 at 12:15 am
It would be awesome since it would mean that people respect the work he has done and consider his sexuality unimportant. I’m not sure I feel much sympathy for politicians who are gay but assume such a strong anti-gay position in public 🙂
jukk888
October 17, 2012 at 10:27 am
I just looked him up and he assumed office on the 6th of August this year. Hopefully, it’s the beginning of a great thing.
D.C.
October 17, 2012 at 10:36 am
Yes he did assume office on August 6th. However this was after President Mills passed away and the former Vice-President John Mahama took over. Elections will be held in December and I’m guessing that’s why this article is causing such a stir.
jukk888
October 19, 2012 at 9:47 am
I hope he wins.
D.C.
October 19, 2012 at 10:58 am
So do I..
angryricky
October 18, 2012 at 4:02 am
Life would be so much easier if the skin of gay men turned purple. We’d recognize each other, so I could ask guys out without being afraid of them kicking my ass over a simple question, and no one would be able to hide it, not even from himself.
D.C.
October 18, 2012 at 10:12 am
LOL. That would be really interesting. I’m sure there would be an embarrassingly huge number of gay bashers with skin the color of lilacs in full bloom. But yes, it would definitely be easier to hit on a guy in such a situation. Guess your gaydar isn’t the best..
queerisme
February 25, 2013 at 1:29 pm
Darn! If it is really true then your country is the blessed lot 🙂 I am Kenyan and we are having our general election on March 5th and I wish he was Kenyan i would elect him before anyone completes the word office position 😀
D.C.
February 25, 2013 at 1:36 pm
The jury’s still out on whether he really is gay or not. In any case many closeted gays in such positions of power are known for strong anti-gay stances to divert suspicion so it may not be all that good. What he has been is a very silent veep.. Hope the Kenyan elections go smoothly.