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Time to take Ghana Government to the UN for Breach of Human Rights
In the reign of Queen Victoria well over a century ago in the 1800's, a law was introduced banning Unnatural Carnal Knowledge (UCK). Great Britain's UCK law became the law of all the colonies too. This morality law made anal intercourse a punishable offence, with any degree of penetration proof of the crime. Archeological evidence has proven that 'back door' sex has been practised since humans evolved into the homo erectus species, recorded in cave paintings. In more recent times, it is a way girls can preserve their virginity for their marriage day. Most countries sensibly repealed UCK laws several decades ago.
But Ghana's powerful religious leaders want this Victorian era law to remain a crime 'against ******'. In Ghana only men to men sex is prosecuted, even arresting men who are naked but not have had sex. The law is a breach of Ghana's obligations under the Human Rights Charter, to which it is a signatory. Police act on reports and break down the doors of homes with cameras clicking, hoping to get some evidence for use in court if large payments are not made to withhold the evidence from the court. In August 2012 in separate raids on private homes, a Swedish national only 5 hours in the country and Ghanaian were arrested in Christian Village as they prepared for bed. In another case near Gbawe, 4 Ghanaians were arrested during sexual activity together. Both cases have been referred to the Human Rights Advocacy Centre of Ghana in Osu.
Posted:
Aug 29 2012, 5:40 AM EDT by
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2012 Update - News from Christian Village
In August 2012 I returned to my apartment in Christian Village to find my neighbour's sister's family from Togo camped downstairs. The husband had been killed in political violence in Togo as the dictator flexed his powers over some in the ruling elite. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time when fighting broke out. Now things were more stable, they were keen to return to restart their lives and I was called upon to help with their bus fare and 1,000GHC start up funds for a food stall for the mother of the eight children.
Much of my time this year has been spent in preparing for a shipment of mini-solar lighting units that are due from China in September 2012. The units provide a solar recharge to 3 Nickel Metal Hydride batteries inside and several hours of bright LED light for the home. I am working with Homeland Youth Empowerment Organisation to train Christian Village youth and unemployed to sell them and make a good commission in the process. See www.sunvolts.biz for details.
Another project is to establish a community gym in a wooden shed that also is used for satellite broadcasts of football.
I am sometimes asked to communicate with foreign gay friends by local Ghanaians. Most countries have travel advice for their citizens about credit card fraud, passport fraud and safety. My answer is that electronic fingerprinting and photos are taken of incoming airport passengers on foreign passports. Their equipment reads chips embedded in the modern passports. Passport fraud is therefore highly unlikely given the anti-fraud measures and the fact that a passport is generally not used again until departure at the airport. Ghana's ATMs are designed is read VISA card chips so visitors should be sure to carry this kind of card. Since the ATMs are computer program driven, they are not a high fraud risk, with personal name id confirmed on screen and printed receipt showing amount of withdrawal and account balance in cedis.
Posted:
Aug 29 2012, 5:01 AM EDT by
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Get Over Him Already
All of you guys who have been on the dumping end of a relationship, read on. And all of you who have dumped your boyfriends, damn you! Stop bawling after two hours. Because, honestly, the only good it will do to you is a bad sinus and a dry throat.
Last updated:
May 4 2012, 10:21 AM EDT by
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Smart Travller web site warns of travel to Ghana
If planning a visit to Ghana, you should read the web site on http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/ghana
Under local Laws, section of that travel advice, there is a reminder of the 7 year minimum prison sentance imposed for homosexuality.
Until such time as the UCK (Un-natural Carnal Knowledge) provision is removed from Ghana's Criminal Code, travel to Ghana by foriegn visitors comes at a huge potential personal risk. This archaic provision is damaging Ghana's international reputation in up-holding the human rights of all its citizens, but also comes at a huge economic cost as tourists can find much safer, less risky tourist destinations where a beautiful holiday is not turned into a nightmare as some corrupt or opportunistic police office seeks to exploit UCK for financial gain.
Posted:
Sep 11 2010, 5:04 AM EDT by
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Human Rights in Ghana means gays and lesbians have rights too
Accra, Aug. 2, GNA - The Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), at the weekend said that Nana Oye Lithur, a Human Rights Advocate, was right on the assertion that homosexuals had rights.
Ms Anna Bossman, CHRAJ Deputy Commissioner in-charge of Legal and Investigations, said The constitutional provision on human rights is clear.We cannot put moral judgment on it. Every person in Ghana, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinion, colour, religion, creed or gender shall be entitled to the fundamental human rights and freedoms.
Mr Bossman, who was speaking at a discussion with News Editors and Senior Media Practitioners in Accra, said.But these rights are subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest".
She said that in the spirit of Ghana's 1992 Constitution, the African Union (AU) and United Nations Charter on Human Rights, Nana Oye Lithur was right and should not suffer for defending human rights. These comments should give us hope that Ghana will de-criminalise gay relations to uphold the constitutional guarantee that has been abused for way too long by blackmailers and ciminals as a cover for their crimes against our community.
Posted:
Aug 14 2010, 3:55 AM EDT by Nookn
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CID allegedly beat up charge 2 gays for receiving unsolicited gift
I was shocked at the over the top reaction to a postal parcel sent from Australia to two gay Ghanaians this week. It is alleged that Wisdom Agomavi and Innocent Mumuni were in email contact with their gardar friend Elliot Wood from Victoria, Australia. Without consulting with them, it is alleged that Mr Wood posted them a gift. When the parcel arrived at the Post Office, they arrived to clear and collect the gift. Clearance required postal staff to open the parcel in their presence. The parcel included 2 gay magaxines and 2 porno DVDs. They Post Office Manager in Accra was contacted and he asked them to wait. Four Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers took them into custody. The defendants were forced to give the email password and emails. It is understood that the emails supported their statement that they had no knowledge of the nature of Mr Wood's unsolicitered gift. The defendants were beaten and placed in celss. The next day they were taken to the internet cafe in Christian Village and asked to identify gay customers who were on chat sessions. They said the could not identify anyone and this response elicited rifle buts to the head for their answer. Later, CID officers informed family members who live in poverty that a large bribe would have to be paid to the CID officers on the case, or else court documents would see the two guys imprisoned for 5 years each. Further, they would ensure that the case received humiliating press coverage. If the allegations are true, then this paints a very disturbing picture of brutal and corrupt behaviour by Ghana's police service. It serves as a warning not to send or receive any postal items to Ghana since an unexpectedly poor choice of gift could ruin your life.
Posted:
Jun 24 2010, 4:52 PM EDT by
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Congrats!!
i have some few friends in the village and they are so nice,i dont know why some small group of people are tarnishing the village. anyways,contracts on making the village a better place to visit.
Posted:
Jun 13 2010, 5:56 AM EDT by
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Welcome from the so-called 'no-go' area of Chrstian Village, Achimota
Christian Village snuggles the perimeter of the Achimota Golf Club. It is home to many talented golfers and co-incidentally, it has a long gay history stretching back at least 3 decades. Unfortunately the regrettable action of 5 'hijackers' in the past few years has tarnished the reputation of the village and jeopardized genuine gay relationships. Fortunately, action has been taken to 'warn off' the alleged perpetrators and in some cases find alternative employment as an apprentice, training for an honest living.
It is mid June 2010 and I am enjoying my 4th week in Christian Village with my gay friend taking part in village social events and finding time to watch the World Cup events on local TV.
I am not the only gay obroni in the village. Let me say at the outset that I am a great fan of the people of Christian Village. I feel totally safe day or night anywhere in the village. Of course there is poverty and great hardship as wages are generally low but the cost of living is as high as many developed countries.
I have decided to do my best to promote the business and networking opportunities for friends in Christian Village by developing a Christian Village web site. Please check it out and give me your feed-back http://sites.google.com/site/cvghana/
Posted:
Jun 12 2010, 11:36 AM EDT by
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Christian Village Holiday Blog
Last updated:
Jun 12 2010, 11:15 AM EDT by
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