The internet is on fire, as Ghana official deletes the gay kiss photo.
Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD), the Director of Diaspora Affairs at the presidency is under fire after sharing a photo of two gay men kissing at the Independence Arch in Ghana, only to delete it later.
The picture that was posted on Facebook seemed to be a celebration of love and inclusivity.
However, soon after its launch, it attracted strongly negative reviews by conservative critics who have claimed that KOD was propagating un-African values.
He was under pressure such that he did not explain why he took the post down.
His silence has not settled the storm.
LGBTQ activists and supporters were displeased, saying that the removal was a lost chance to promote acceptance and human rights in a nation where LGBTQ issues are still a taboo.
According to the critics, such a public figure as KOD should not back down when advocating equality.
As one of the social media users put it, you cannot make bold posts and then go into hiding when you are attacked.
Others note that his move strengthens the stigma that LGBTQ Ghanaians already deal with.
A national symbol of freedom, the Independence Arch has now turned into a hotbed of a wider cultural conflict.
Although there are those who are commending KOD on publishing the picture, others believe that removing it was making the intolerance camps even stronger.
KOD has not made any comments publicly yet, and many people are left guessing whether his post was a sincere act – or something he regrets.
Whichever the case, the debate it has generated is not fading away.
