In the past two months, Ghana has been embroiled in a debate that questions the very moral fabric of its society. Last October, at the meeting of Commonwealth heads of government in Australia, the UK Prime Minister David Cameron threatened to withdraw aid to governments that are unwilling to reform legislation banning homosexuality.

By Joseph Appiah and Gary Al-Smith, Accra

Cameron said those receiving UK aid should "adhere to proper human rights". Ending the ban on homosexuality was one of the recommendations of an internal report on the future relevance of the Commonwealth.
Simon Azantilow, a gay man in the Ghanaian capital Accra is in full support of the reform.“We have a right to practice what we want. Human beings have a right to choose their sexual preferences. It is a shame that our laws are so backward,” Azantilow says.

However, Reverend George Asante, the head pastor of the Christian Messengers Church in Ghana’s second largest city Kumasi, opposes the UK premier’s ideas. “Homosexuality is wrong on so many levels. From a constitutional and religious point of view it is illegal and must never be tolerated,” he says. Ghanaian law does indeed prohibit the practice of homosexuality, which makes it difficult for gay people to express themselves.

(No) strings attached
Cameron’s threats haven’t impressed President John Evans Atta Mills of Ghana. Cameron said that "British aid should have more strings attached… While we appreciate all the financial assistance and aid which has been given to us by our development partners, we will not accept any aid with strings attached if that aid doesn’t serve our interests.”

Azantilow, however, is all for the British sanctions, even if it would mean that his fellow Ghanaians pay a price. “I am a Ghanaian and I don’t like my people to suffer. But sometimes painful things must be done in order to get results. Cameron should make life difficult for Ghana and other nations who do not want to accept us.”

Reverend Asante, on the other hand, believes that “Ghanaians must resist every form of oppression even if it means economic sanctions. Historically we have never condoned homosexuality, which is why Ghana’s constitution makes sure that any form of unnatural sex isn’t legalised.” But Azantilow says the constitution of Ghana doesn’t explicitly mention homosexuality.