A massive billboard commemorating Pride Month in Ghana’s capital, Accra, has been taken down.
The billboard, which was erected on the highway during the first weekend of June, sparked a lot of discussion in Ghana’s media, with many calling for its removal.
Some MPs set the chief of police a 24-hour deadline to remove the billboard, but it is still unclear who took it down.
June is a month dedicated to celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people all across the world, however most African countries do not participate.
In Ghana, for instance, Gay sex is punishable, with a prison term of three years.
Ghana Member of Parliament, Sam George confirmed in a tweet on Thursday evening the billboard had been taken down.
“We commend the authorities for their prompt action. “We are a law-abiding country that will fight to the last end to safeguard our cultural sovereignty,” he stated.
“If we band together and demand the reforms we want, we can achieve results from the government.” True power is in the hands of the people. The billboard has ‘frat’ fallen down. He went on to say, “Power to our cultural autonomy.”
Ghana’s parliament is contemplating a bill that would subject the LGBT community to heavy punishment.
This is the first time such a billboard has been erected in the country, according to local media reports. The measure has been dubbed the “worst homophobic document ever” by rights groups.
