Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, has formally petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to denounce a viral video showing two foreign men, believed to be a gay couple, kissing and celebrating what looks like a wedding ceremony at Independence Square in Accra.
The footage, which has drawn widespread attention online, shows the couple with Ghana’s national flag visible in the background. Many Ghanaians have reacted with anger, calling the act a disrespect to national pride and cultural values.
https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?gdpr=0&client=ca-pub-1989088809970613&output=html&h=280&slotname=9760142851&adk=2440818733&adf=1497355009&pi=t.ma~as.9760142851&w=692&abgtt=10&fwrn=4&fwrnh=100&lmt=1750993255&rafmt=1&format=692×280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theghanareport.com%2Fassafuah-petitions-mahama-over-gay-couple-desecrating-independence-square%2F&fwr=0&fwrattr=true&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&wgl=1&uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiMTUuMC4wIiwieDg2IiwiIiwiMTM3LjAuNzE1MS4xMjAiLG51bGwsMCxudWxsLCI2NCIsW1siR29vZ2xlIENocm9tZSIsIjEzNy4wLjcxNTEuMTIwIl0sWyJDaHJvbWl1bSIsIjEzNy4wLjcxNTEuMTIwIl0sWyJOb3QvQSlCcmFuZCIsIjI0LjAuMC4wIl1dLDBd&dt=1750993249339&bpp=4&bdt=690&idt=676&shv=r20250625&mjsv=m202506180101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D4fcf7c9fa0e3b210%3AT%3D1748864196%3ART%3D1750964145%3AS%3DALNI_MZJT25LaQrZdvpEJlNy5k1zRGu0xQ&gpic=UID%3D000010eba2444fb3%3AT%3D1748864196%3ART%3D1750964145%3AS%3DALNI_MZElIF669Je2M8jQp-fBQAVLzx7JA&eo_id_str=ID%3Dce9ec52681ef9732%3AT%3D1748864196%3ART%3D1750964145%3AS%3DAA-AfjYU63fxA8WVRYh6QKZ5uQ0h&prev_fmts=307×250%2C0x0%2C0x0&nras=2&correlator=74089995948&frm=20&pv=1&u_tz=-480&u_his=1&u_h=1080&u_w=1920&u_ah=1032&u_aw=1920&u_cd=24&u_sd=1&dmc=8&adx=434&ady=1083&biw=1905&bih=911&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=42532523%2C95353386%2C95362436%2C95362655%2C95363434%2C95364338%2C42533293%2C95344790%2C95359266%2C95364336%2C95364390&oid=2&pvsid=6497020872464060&tmod=1904630617&uas=0&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theghanareport.com%2F&fc=896&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1920%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1920%2C911&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CEebr%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=128&bc=31&bz=0&td=1&tdf=2&psd=W251bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLDNd&nt=1&pgls=CAEaBTYuOC4x~CAEQBg..&ifi=1&uci=a!1&btvi=1&fsb=1&dtd=6329
Assafuah took to Facebook on Thursday, June 26, to announce his petition, stating that the event was not just controversial but deeply offensive.
“This is not just a social issue; it is a moral assault and a spiritual insult to the conscience of our nation,” he wrote.
He urged Mr Mahama to take a public stance and also pushed for the swift passage of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill currently before Parliament, arguing that such legislation would help protect the sanctity of Ghana’s national symbols.
Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, the MP for Assin South and a member of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, also weighed in.
Posting on social media, he accused Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of encouraging a climate where such acts could occur without consequence.
Public debate around Ghana’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights has reignited following the video, especially in light of the pending legislation, which proposes strict measures against LGBTQ+ activities and advocacy.
Parliament has yet to vote on the bill.
