Michael Essien supports LGBT+ Ghanaians; social media fans roast him

Ghanaian football star Michael Essien has endorsed his country’s LGBT+ community’s fight and advocacy for the legal recognition of their rights to such sexuality.

“We see you, we hear you, we support you. Our LGBTQIA plus Community in Ghana”, the former Chelsea star wrote on Instagram.

Following his post, his Instagram page has been awash with vitriolic comments from some of his fans.

Essien has since deleted the post.

His comments coincide with similar sentiments expressed by some of the world’s top celebrities who have called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to “reach out and engage in a meaningful and purposeful dialogue with the LGBTQI+ community leaders to create a pathway for allyship, protection and support” in the country.

The celebrities also petitioned President Akufo-Addo for inclusion, which they noted will “make the nation even greater and even stronger.”

In a letter to the Ghanaian LGBTQI+ community on Monday, 1 March 2021, signed by 67 celebrities including Idris Elba, Ozwald Boateng and Naomi Campbell, the celebrities stated that they are “deeply disturbed by threats” to the LGBTQI+ community in Ghana.

“We have watched with profound concern as you have had to question the safety of your vital work at the LGBT+ Rights Ghana Centre in Accra, and feared for your personal wellbeing and security. It is unacceptable to us that you feel unsafe,” the letter said.

It continued that: “As prominent and powerful advocates for this great country, we are beseeching His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and political/cultural leaders to create a pathway for allyship, protection and support.”

President Nana Akufo-Addo recent reiterated that he will never legalise same-sex marriage.

“For same-sex marriage to be legalised in Ghana, it will not happen in my time as President”, the Ghanaian leader said at St. Michael and All Angels Cathedral in Asante Mampong on Saturday, 27 February 2021, during the installation of the Second Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Ghana.

“I have said this before and let me, in conclusion, stress again that it will not be under the Presidency of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that same-sex marriage will be legalised in Ghana. It will never happen in my time as President”, he emphasised to applause from the congregation.

The President made a similar declaration in 2018 after he had said in an Aljazeera interview that the recognition of the LGBT+ community in Ghana was “bound to happen” in Ghana, for which he was roundly criticised.

The debate sprung up again after the LGBT+ community opened an office space at Ashongman in Accra.

It was later closed down by the National Security Secretariat following widespread condemnation by the general public led by the clergy and CSOs.