Accra, Ghana – A South African gay couple, known on social media as Lue & Rue, has stirred a storm of controversy in Ghana after sharing photos of themselves kissing at the iconic Black Star Square in Accra—one of the country’s most revered national monuments.
The images, which have since gone viral on social media, were met with widespread backlash from many Ghanaians, who saw the act as disrespectful due to the symbolic significance of the location, which represents Ghana’s struggle for independence and national pride.
While public displays of affection among LGBTQ+ individuals remain taboo in many parts of the country, the specific choice of Black Star Square, often regarded as a high-security and ceremonial site, intensified the outrage. Critics described the act as not only provocative but as an affront to the cultural and moral fabric of the nation.
“This isn’t about private life choices—it’s about the deliberate use of a national symbol to make a statement. It’s disrespectful to our history,” one X (formerly Twitter) user posted.
Others on social media expressed concern about the silence from government officials, especially given the ongoing national debate on LGBTQ+ rights and legislation. Some pointed to the ruling government’s previous endorsement of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments and questioned what they perceived as a double standard in addressing foreign advocacy.
In a separate series of photos posted from Aburi Botanical Gardens, the couple appeared in more affectionate poses. Their Instagram caption read:
> “Never in our lives did we think we’d find ourselves in Ghana, doing something so simple and yet so defiant.”
The couple is reportedly in Ghana as part of an LGBTQ+ advocacy tour, aimed at spotlighting queer African identities and promoting acceptance across the continent.
The photos have reignited national conversations around Ghana’s position on LGBTQ+ rights, freedom of expression, and the use of national landmarks for political or social messaging. While some Ghanaians urged tolerance and pointed out the importance of personal freedoms, many others stood firm in their belief that the act was a calculated affront to Ghanaian values.
As the debate rages on, it remains to be seen whether the authorities will respond officially—or whether the incident will further deepen divisions over LGBTQ+ issues in the country.
Story by RSM Kofi Doe Lawson