NEWS Concern over arrests in Ghana September 19, 2003 ACCRA — Activists in Ghana have expressed concern over a recent newspaper article, which reported the arrests of 4 gay men for "indecent inscription" and "unnatural carnal knowledge" after they posted pictures of themselves to a penpal in Norway. Writing from Accra, one activist from the Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights Ghana said "Gay and lesbian life here as been illegal for many years. The fact is that, in Ghana there are lots and lots of gays and lesbians but most of these people operate in the hideouts or in secret. Most operate in secret gay friendly clubs in the various parts of Ghana." He expressed doubt over the fairness of the trial of the 4 men as it was reported in the Daily Graphic. "We are not sure if these people were given fair hearing but cannot pursue the case because our organisation is not financially sound. We have no funds to follow, even such an important case as this." The Daily Graphic report, dated August 8, 2003 said that the 4 men had been jailed for 2 years each. "Madina district magistrate court yesterday sentenced 4 young men to 2 years imprisonment each for indecent inscription, which is exposing ones self and having sex in public and unnatural carnal knowledge." The 4 were reportedly convicted on their own plea of guilty. According to the report, Chief Superintendents Jonathan Yakubu, Nima divisional police force commander, said on Tuesday, August 5, that one of the men went to the Accra north post office to collect a parcel. Apparently, when the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) official's attached to the post office were examining the parcel, they discovered that it contained photographs of young men engaged in compromising homosexual acts. The commander said the custom officers informed the CEPS commissioner who in turn, alerted the police and the 4 were arrested. The report continues, "Mr. Yakubu said that the young men told the police that they had a penpal from Norway who asked that they should take those pictures and send the negatives to him. He said the penpal identified as Suein Hugo Lie Pedesen, posted the picture on the Internet and sends the young men the hard copies. Mr. Pedesen is also said to have sent them a credit card drawn on the spare bank in Vestfols, Norway. According to the police commander, the young men have been drawing money on the card. Mr. Pedesen is also said to have been sending them shoes and used clothing's regularly. The commander expressed regret that homosexuality is becoming prevalent in the society and urged parents to take interest in what their male children do in their leisure periods. He warned Internet operators that it is an offence to allow their facilities to be used to post pornographic materials." Concerns over the article and the arrests have affected a plan to get LGBT people together for a meeting Accra to discuss the formation of an LGBT organisation in the country. But activists remain determined, "All the same, few people have vowed to attend the get together no matter the cost. If all human beings have rights, then gays and lesbians have rights too." –Behind The Mask Previous Behind The Mask stories Namibia's Rainbow Project votes for change Xhosa gays lash out at E. Cape traditionalists The price of being gay in Somalia A peek into the Ghanaian closet Malawi: Churches condemn condoms in prisons Kenya: lesbians fight invisibility African lesbians meet at Sex & Secrecy conference Egypt limits powers of homophobic emergency courts