Pan-African analyst Sekou Nkrumah has called for greater understanding and tolerance in discussions around homosexuality in Ghana, stressing the need to separate education and awareness from promotion of lifestyles.
Speaking on his programme The Last Word on Tuesday (20 Janaury), Nkrumah addressed concerns raised about the Ghanaian educational curriculum and the portrayal of LGBTQ+ issues in society.
Nkrumah said much of the public debate has been fueled by misunderstandings. “I understood that the curriculum discussions were aimed at training teachers, not at promoting homosexuality to students,” he said, noting that some controversy stemmed from off-air comments by a media personality that were widely circulated.
The analyst emphasised that education on sensitive topics, including human sexuality, is meant to inform and guide students rather than encourage specific behaviors.
“When a girl experiences menstruation or a boy navigates puberty, they need guidance from a trusted adult,” Nkrumah explained. “Similarly, understanding differences in sexuality requires adult guidance, not judgment or condemnation.”
Reflecting on his own learning, Nkrumah cited the works of African American author James Baldwin, who explored social issues and homosexuality in his writings. “I realised that being homosexual, like being heterosexual, is about love and attraction. It is not for anyone to judge as right or wrong,” he said.
He stressed that Ghana’s diverse cultural and religious landscape requires a nuanced approach. “We cannot pretend that homosexuality does not exist. Some are born that way, while others may be influenced by their experiences. In either case, society must respond with compassion, not condemnation,” he said.
Nkrumah further highlighted the risks of hypocrisy in public discourse, noting that those who publicly condemn others may themselves engage in private behaviors that contradict their stance. He urged Ghanaians to focus on tolerance, education, and understanding rather than stigmatization.
Concluding his discussion, Nkrumah said societal acceptance of different ways of life should be a gradual process. “We must respect individual differences while determining, as a society, what aligns with our cultural and moral framework. Denying reality or imposing foreign values will not create a harmonious society,” he stated.
The analyst’s remarks come amid ongoing debates in Ghana over the role of education in addressing sexual orientation and the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, highlighting the tension between cultural norms, human rights, and public policy.
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