The Vice President Answer Was not Convincing

The Vice President Answer to His Alleged Homosexuality Was not Convincing

In society where homosexuality is a taboo, one could understand how uncomfortable the new vice president was when the question about his alleged homosexuality was asked during his vetting. He is the first Vice President in the continent of Africa to be asked about his sexuality. So how did we get here?

In January of this year, a man named Joseph Kwabena Owusu-Sekyere went to The Daily Guide newspaper and told the editors that he is a gay man who has been in a homosexual relationship with a prominent figure in the Mills’ administration. Although Mr. Owusu-Sekyere did provide Daily Guide the name of his alleged homosexual partner, the paper rightly decided not to publish the name of this minister.

According to Mr. Owusu-Sekyere, the affairs with this alleged minister started back in the 60s when both of them were students at one of the prestigious high schools in Ghana, Mfansipim secondary, and continued during their adult lives. After this vivid description, rumor mills started to point to our new vice president, his Excellency Mr. Amissah-Arthur. This news story ran for about a week in the newspapers and on social media and died. As expected, Mr. Amissah did not come out to deny the allegation because his name was not directly mentioned in the Daily Guide report.

But almost seven months later, Mr. Amissah’s sexuality is in the news again when he was nominated by his Excellency, President Mr. John Mahama to become his vice president after the untimely death of president Mills.

During his vetting process at the appointment committee in the parliament, an MP from Asante Bekwai, Mr. Joe Owusu Osei rightly asked Mr. Amissah to comment on rumors circulating on the social media about his alleged homosexuality. Mr. Amissah dutifully answered the Honorable Owusus Osei’s question but his answer was very unconvincing and opened himself for more questions.

The new vice president admitted knowing Mr. Owusu-Sekyere but denied ever having homosexual relationship with him. Mr. Amissah also admitted that Mr. Owusu-Sekyere visited his house to ask for some money. So the question is what type of relationship did these two gentlemen have that led Mr. Owusu-Sekyere to ask for money from the vice president? How did Mr. Amissah know the lifestyle or sexual preference of Mr. Owusu-Sekyere? The vice president says “he has not seen Mr. Owusu-Sekyere for over 40 something years” but at the same time, “he saw him once for about two minutes when he came to his house for money”. Which is which? Mr. Amissah rambling answer to the MP simple question was his low point in the vetting process. The vice president disjointed answer to this question makes Mr. Owusu-Sekyere more credible than him.

I am wondering whether Mr. John Mahama did investigate Mr. Amissah alleged homosexuality before nominating him because whether they like it or not the opposition is going to use it in the campaign. A country as conservative as Ghana will not tolerate an alleged homosexual as vice president.

Now the burden of proof is on the new vice president and so far he has not shown that he does not have a homosexual tendency. His credibility is at stake now and the earlier he gives full details of his homosexuality, the better for him and his party.

Kwaku G. Poku

Alexandria, Virginia

kgpoku@gmail.com

Kensara8@twitter.com