Source: Stringer
Market women at Kodie in the Afigya Kwabre South District of the Ashanti Region were left stunned on Monday, 29th March 2024, when a self-styled bisexual man in the area was seen holding placards to protest against the persecution and intimidation of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) community.
As early as 8:00 a.m. on that fateful day which was a Good Friday, the one-man protester whose name was given as Patrick Aboagye Dacosta was seen wearing a red ‘T’ shirt and black jeans trouser with a wig on his head…
The brave demonstrator was heard appealing to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo not to assent to the anti-gay bill to pass it into law.
Patrick Aboagye Dacosta captured displaying placard
Whilst many were left stunned, Aboagye moved from one end of the market to the other areas shouting on top of his voice, telling Ghanaians to allow gays and lesbians to have their peace of mind.
“Lesbianism didn’t start from our generation, it started years ago and it will never end so put a stop to this unnecessary intimidation,” he said.
At the main lorry station at Kodie, Dacosta defied all odds and removed some placards with inscriptions like ‘Mr. President don’t assent to the anti-LGBTQ+bill’, ‘LGBTQ+ people are special; treat us with respect’, ‘LGBTQ+ has come to stay’, ‘gays and lesbians are in the same schools and churches with you’, and ‘LGBTQ+ people also have their rights’.
Patrick Aboagye Dacosta seen displaying placards
Other inscriptions included ‘No LGBTQ+ No Vote’ ‘gays and lesbians are human beings’, ‘I am for gays and lesbians’, ‘Ghanaians are hypocrites’ and ‘Assent to the anti-gay bill and lose the aids from the western world’.
The Parliament of Ghana on Wednesday, 28th February 2024, passed the anti-gay bill and this has generated a lot of reactions from the general public.
While some members of the public have hailed the passage of the bill, others in support of the LGBTQ+ community have expressed dissatisfaction with the passage.
In an interview with our reporter, Aboagye said he embarked on the demonstration to remind stakeholders that assenting to the anti-gay bill would violate key fundamental human rights provisions prescribed in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
“I am protesting today to remind Ghanaians that if the anti-gay bill is enacted, it will undermine Ghana’s international reputation as a peaceful nation,” adding that not only will it destroy Ghana’s international reputation but also deny gays and lesbians their constitutional rights to freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom of their rights.
The Kodie bisexual vowed to go to the length and breadth of the country to stage similar protests to let Ghanaians know that gays and lesbians are fed up with the intimidation and discrimination they (LGBTQ+ community) go through.
“Enough is enough of these persecutions; a time has come to stand up for our rights and I am not going to end it here. If I have to die, I will die to save the LGBTQ+ community,” he stressed.
