On this page we, the members of gayghana.org, will draft an open letter to the management of the Accra radio station that is hosting the Blakk Rasta show. Meanwhile there will be a poll on this page where members can vote if we should send this letter to the management and the media (newspapers, radio stations) or not. If the letter is completed and a large majority of the voters are in favour of sending the letter, we will make it happen.
When voting, please also consider the consequences of the publicity we may get (positive and negative).

Can we also think about a back up plan as I don't believe the station will be particularly scared by us:
1. enlisting the support of the international community (petitions, letter writing, emails, etc)
2. contacting the sponsers of the show and asking for their opinion on the promotion of hate and how they think this may damage the image of their products.

Good idea; se fact check to do's above.

Start draft letter:

To the management
Hitz FM
P.O. Box 17013
Accra - North
+233-21-226838
+233-21-233165


Accra, date

SUBJECT: BROADCASTING OF HOMOPHOBIC HATE SPEECHES BY BLACK RASTA

Dear Sir/Madam,

The members of gayghana.com, a virtual civil society organisation, summon (or urge?) you to stop the programme of the so-called "Black Rasta" presentor (or show-host) immediately.

The show host "Black Rasta" is using your radio station to instigate violence and hatred against homosexual and bisexual citizens in Ghana. Although unfortunately a majority of the Ghanaian population, still disapproves of homosexual acts, the radio station management should be aware that inciting hate and violence is illegal. And it is unbecoming to misuse the Media - which are playing such an important role in the public education and democratic process in a country, for these illegal purposes.

Whilst in Ghana's laws (a relic of the colonial past) homosexuals are persecuted rather than protected against discrimination, a United Nations motion has been tabled recently to impress upon countries with discriminatory or insufficiently protective legislation, to respect the universal human rights and decriminalise homosexuality. Thus the international community is trying to make the - mostly sub-saharan African - states which are still in early stages of a process of democratisation, aware that universal human rights include the rights of all people, so also those of homo- and bisexual citizens.

Not withstanding the fact that the Ghana laws are not yet in line with the international treaties on Human Rights signed by its representatives, and ratified by its parliament, the International criminal court in The Hague does prosecute (even if it may be years later) those who incite violence. This also includes the media, as has been shown by the conviction of the people responsible for the hate speeches on the Mille Collines radio station in Rwanda during the genocide, who can not hide behind the "freedom of the press" if they are involving themselves in illegal activities.

The issue of whether your station policy is against or for homosexuality is not the issue we wish to raise with you. The issue is whether you agree with promoting hate and violence in a public forum such as your station. This issue we will also discuss with the companies sponsoring your radio station.

As the management of the radio station you are responsible for the content of the programmes you broadcast. That means you are liable for the illegal incitement to violence by "Black Rasta" (and for the open promotion of use of illegal substances (wee) by the same show host).

We call upon you to put an immediate stop to these illegal practices and publicly denounce the station managements support of the statements made on your station by "Black Rasta".

On behalf of the gayghana.org members,

Cordially,



Who is going to sign this?