Ghanaian international football star, Michael Essien‘s post on Instagram supporting the LGBTQIA plus community in Ghana receives backlash.
The midfielder and currently a part of Danish Superliga club FC Nordsjælland’s Player /coaching staff posted a picture on Instagram, “Ghana Supports Equality” with the caption, “We see you, we hear you, we support you. Our LGBTQIA plus community in Ghana.”
With verbal attacks and trolls on his personality and carrier, the former professional footballer was compelled to delete his post.
However, he lost many followers despite deleting his post and at the moment trending on Twitter.
A fan wrote, “Drogba built a hospital in Cote D’Ivoire, gave out his hospital for free screening Drogba provided digital education for Africa. Eto’o donated money for Cameroon in COVID time and scholarships. What Michael Essien could do in this time is LGBT? Kwasiasem kwa #Ohia Mahama”.
Ghana has a strong anti-gay stance and has been a hot topic in the past weeks after it was reported that the LGBTQ+ office was opened in Accra.
This agitated many Ghanaians who called for the closure of the office to the extent of burning it down.
The office had been locked down in Accra and the President Akufo-Addo on Saturday, February 27, announced that same-sex marriage will not be legalised under his Presidency. Pro-gay rights activists contended that Ghana’s law does not support LGBTQ+
Celebrities like Deborah Vanessa, Juliet Ibrahim amongst others showed their support for the LGBTQ+ community in Ghana and requested that their interest and human rights must be protected as citizens.
International influencer and celebrities like Ghanaian international fashion icon and Vogue editor-in-chief, Edward Enninful, and fashion, film and media, Idris Elba, signed an open letter in support of Ghana’s LGBTQ+ community. Fashion icon and supermodel, Naomi Campbell, also signed the letter together with 66 other celebrities, politicians and other influential people which seek to mount pressure on the president of Ghana to offer protection to the LGBTQ+ community.
“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 ”.
“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. We petition for inclusivity which will make the nation even greater and even stronger,” part of the letter read.
Follow Us
Renate is a lawyer, publicist, and writer. She believes that education and information is the key to developing and shaping Africa. In her free time, she paints beautiful art pieces on canvas. Renate believes that life is a perception, and you live it the way you perceive it.
