The long awaited visit of US president Barak Obama to Ghana was over in a flash. In a well thought through and uplifting speech the president addressed not only host Nation Ghana but also the whole of Africa with a refreshing frankness. However whilst referring to various human rights issues the president failed to specifically mention the extreme African homophobia in his speech as being one of the most reactionary movements preventing Africa from moving into the 21st century. The US president who in other domestic and international fora has frequently addressed gay rights as human rights, and vehemently opposed the criminalization of same sex relations, has here in the Lions den, backed out of a clear statement in this respect. How unfotunate for our movement. This was truely a missed opportunity.