In May 2024, I embarked on a journalistic journey to Malaysia, a trip that took me through Abidjan, Doha, and finally Kuala Lumpur. After nearly 24 hours of travel, compounded by an eight-hour time difference, I found myself struggling to sleep at night. I lodged at the Hilton Petaling Jaya, about a 15-minute drive from Kuala Lumpur’s vibrant city centre. The neighbourhood boasted an active nightlife, with pubs and shops open around the clock.
On my second sleepless night, I decided to step outside and observe the bustling nightlife. As I stood by the roadside outside the Hilton, directly opposite the entertainment district, I marvelled at the efficient traffic system, the well-maintained roads, and the throngs of people enjoying their night out.
About 15 minutes into my observation, a new red vehicle drove past me, seemingly deciding late to shift lanes closer to the pavement where I stood. Not long after, another red vehicle, a Proton S70 sedan, drove by and stopped nearby. It appeared to be the same red vehicle that had passed by earlier. The male driver, alone in the car, appeared to be searching for something, glancing in my direction repeatedly. I moved up the road slightly to give him a better view of the bustling nightlife, but little did I know, he was actually there for me.
He reversed a bit and rolled down his window. He greeted me in a Malaysian accent, then switched to English, asking, “Do you know where I can get some of this right now?” He showed me a video on his mobile phone, and to my horror, it was two men having sex. Disgusted, I told him I had no idea. Undeterred, he persisted, offering money. I firmly reiterated my disdain and told him to never show me such a thing again. He quietly finally drove away, realising my increasing irritation.
Note that Malaysia criminalises same-sex sexual activity between men and between women. The gender expression of trans people is also criminalised.
This brief yet jarring encounter illuminated the dangers of accepting LGBTQ practices in any country, especially Ghana, which currently stands at a crossroads on the LGBTQ issue. The incident highlighted how members of the LGBTQ community might influence the poor and vulnerable in our society, bullying them into such lifestyles.
The Mayo Clinic, a reputable American academic medical centre, recently published findings that men who have sex with men are at a higher risk of HIV infection, the virus that causes AIDS, as well as other sexually transmitted infections. Furthermore, gay men and other men who have sex with men may face increased risks of depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety.
These health risks would only add to the burdens on Ghana’s already strained healthcare system, which is currently grappling with issues such as kidney problems, HIV, malaria, and cholera. Our healthcare institutions, already under immense pressure, cannot afford the additional strain that might come from legalized LGBTQ practices.
It is important that President Akufo-Addo signs the recently passed anti-LGBTQ bill into law. Doing so would help alleviate the pressures on our healthcare system and protect the health and well-being of the Ghanaian populace. Our nation’s limited resources must be judiciously applied to the pressing needs of many of our compatriots who through no fault of theirs are suffering or will suffer various ailments that afflict them simply because they find themselves in the kind of environment that we have.
The incident in Malaysia served as a blunt reminder of the potential consequences of embracing LGBTQ practices. It is a lesson Ghana must heed to safeguard its future.
The writer, Fred Smith, is the Health Editor at Joy News.