Slow News Day in Ghana

Daniel Russell at pulse.com.gh reports...

A chief in Central Region of Ghana is said to have committed a incestuous act of sex with a mother and her daughter.

That is not incestuous. Not in the literal sense, anyway, as we'll see.

The chief in the Central Region is alleged to have had sex separately with a 55 -year old woman and her 37- year old daughter.

Why is this news?

Nana Wiredu III of Asiam is said to have admitted the offence but refused to perform rituals to pacify the gods for what is considered an abomination.

It's an offense? According to whom? Which religion are we talking about? And "admitted" probably isn't the right word. He's probably bragging.

As a result, the daughter, Ama Afull claims her business is collapsing and she wants the chief to perform the rites in order to save her.

Hmm. There are many businesses that have thrived even as their owners have all sorts of sex.

Her mother, identified as Auntie Akua wants the matter swept under the carpet in order to save the family from disgrace.

It seems a little late for that.

Ama Afful says her mother has even threatened to disown her if she goes public with the matter.

But speaking with Nhyira FM’s Naa Amerley, she claims she is being haunted by the situation is thus, left with no option but to go public to force the chief to do what is right.

Has it worked yet?

Someone having sex with one person and then later that person's parent or adult child happens more than people might think. It happens when someone has sex with their mother of father-in-law, their daughter or son-in-law, when someone has sex with their adult stepchild, and when a genetic parent has sex with their adult genetic child, whether it was a situation involving Genetic Sexual Attraction or not. Sometimes it is a matter of  cheating, as in a secret affair, which can get very ugly. Other times, it isn't cheating because there is an agreement involving polyamory or some other form of ethical nonmonogamy (perhaps even in the context of swinging), or there is no (longer) an agreement to sexual exclusivity with the first lover. And sometimes, it is together and not separately, and some of those situation involve the parent and adult child being affectionate directly with each other.

The variety is nearly endless. Usually, there isn't a correlation to negative business performance.

Why Ghana Needs Full Marriage Equality

Ghana not only continues to deny people their fundamental right to marry, but adults continue to be arrested and prosecuted for having consensual sex with each other. Here's the latest example I found, this time a myjoyonline.com... 

Two siblings have been remanded in Police custody for alleged incestuous relationship which produced an 18-year-old boy.

53-year-old Issifu Abubakari and 36-year-old Ramatu were arrested on Wednesday December 11, 2013 and charged with the offence.

With that age difference, it seems possible to me that they are half-siblings and it is possible that Issifu wasn't even around while Ramatu was growing up.

They are alleged to have been in a relationship for about 20 years.

That would make Ramatu 16 years old at the beginning. The age of consent in Ghana is 16.

Kumasi-based Nhyira FM's Ohemeng Tawiah reported that the couple relocated from Dawu, near Agona, to Koforidua after family members and other relatives raised suspicions about their relationship.

So they were already dealing with hostile family and having to move simply because they loved each other. Family should support, not hate.

After 20 years, relatives of the couple discovered that they had been living as husband and wife with an 18-year-old son in his first year in Senior High School.

Even though the brother and sister were summoned to the chief of their village, and made to perform some rites to 'cleanse' them, they continued to have sexual relationship, Ohemeng reported.

Well. yes, they are married except in law, and they obviously love each other. What is the sense in trying to break up a family? If they've been together for 20 years without a problem, why try to stop them? There is no good reason.

They do not mention any problem with their child, so my guess is that that child is healthy, because I'm fairly certain they would have included any significant problems experienced by him in the report. To American eyes, reading that he is 18 and in his first year at Senior High School seems strange, but it is entirely possible he wasn't started in school until later than most American students start.

So what exactly was the problem with their relationship? Other people didn't like the idea. So what? How ridiculous it is to waste resources trying to pry apart adult lovers, especially ones that apparently haven't caused any trouble for anybody. I can guarantee you there are other siblings in Ghana living as spouses, some with children together, just as there are (and always have been) all over the world. The sooner we recognize all adults should have relationship rights, including full marriage equality, the better.

Father and Daughter Imprisoned in Ghana

What really happened in Ghana? We may never know. This is the report published by myjoyonline.com...

A 40-year-old driver and his daughter have been remanded into prison custody by a Kumasi Circuit court for engaging in sexual relations.

So both were arrested.

The 20-year-old lady told Nhyira FM’s Ewiase mu Nsem her father; Kojo Mintah threatened her with the Antoa deity into having sex with her about ten times over a period of one year.

But officials of the Zongo police Domestic Violent and Victim Support Unit decided to charge the two with incest because preliminary investigations indicate the two adults consented to the act.

Claims of assault should be taken seriously. Unfortunately, there is a possible motivation to claimed to have been assaulted when consensual sex can bring criminal prosecution.

Doreen Mensah, who is a JHS leaver, told Luv FM’s Erastus Asare Donkor that her father started having sex with her after the death of her mother.

Meanwhile, her father told Luv News he was seduced by the daughter.

Throwing someone half your age under the bus is not much of a defense, and a rotten thing to do.

He however felt sorry for the daughter, saying if knowledge of their amorous relationship gets to the public she could be antagonized.

Sadly, yes. It is ridiculous, but people are still persecuted for having consensual sex.

Detective Inspector Donatus Dickson Torda of Zongo DOVVSU told Lu News Section 105(a) Subsection II of the Criminal Code mandates the arrest of a victim of incest if he or she is above 16 years.

“She is of age, an adult…because she knows that the father is her close blood relation and the father too knows that she is his daughter, and when you go into the law, the two should be charged.”

A clear distinction needs to be made between consensual sex and assault/abuse. There are no "victims" in consensual sex. But people who have been assaulted should not be prosecuted at all. What went on here? We don't know. If this was a situation of coercion or force, she should not be banded a criminal, but he should have the book thrown at him. If this was consensual sex, it shouldn't be a criminal matter at all.

Another Consanguinamorous Relationship in Ghana News

The media in Ghana frequently reports on consanguinamory. Such relationships are often prosecuted in Ghana under "anti-incest" laws and customs. But this time, there is a happier ending. This report at spyghana.com comes from Prosper Agbenyega...

A 23years old mason, Bismark Atiglah has allegedly impregnated his blood sister, Ivy Atikpoh, 21 years. The two siblings, belonging to the same mother but of different fathers, according to reliable sources are based in Hohoe of the Volta Region when the unfortunate incident of incest took place.

Why is this unfortunate? Sounds like a happy relationship and now they'll be a family.

According to the information, Ivy Atikpoh who was staying with her mother over the years had some disagreement with her mother which compelled her to left her mother’s place and put up with her blood brother.

Checks conducted by this paper has confirmed that, few weeks into leaving her mother, Ivy Atikpoh’s mother after haven sensed foul play in the relationship between her children, decided to keep a close eye on their activities. On one of her own investigation, she saw through Bismark Atiglah’s window, a heated sexual escapade between her children.

So in addition to driving her daughter away, she's a snoop and a rat.

She however warned her daughter of the consequences of her actions but her advice fell on deaf ears.

According to the mother who spoke to a source, (name withheld), she was surprised at the development and confronted her daughter on many occasions to cease the intimate relationship with her brother, but that was not taken.

They are happy together. Maybe the mother should have read my advice.

Few months into the amorous but abominable relationship, the girl, Ivy Atikpoh got pregnant, and confessed her brother, Bismark Atiglah as the one responsible.

Meanwhile, the situation has been considered an abominable act, which needed to be treated well so expel the ‘curse’ upon the two.

Right. Okay...

Sources say, arrangements are being made to cleanse the two siblings so as to allow them the opportunity to live as husband and wife.

Well that is certainly better than prosecuting and separating them. Support their decision and their relationship! This should always be the reaction for any relationship between consenting adults: let them be together, and let them marry if they want. Now, if the journalists would stop using bigoted language like calling this "abominable."

At then end of the article were these other stories...

1. Man Impregnates Sister Kofi Mensah A 22-year-old driver, Kofi Mensah, who lives at...
2. Mother Jailed 7 Years For Aiding Incest A mother who encouraged her two children to indulge in...
3. Man threatens to kill mother for refusing marriage to sister The Domestic Violence and Victims’ Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the...
4. Woman jailed for aiding incest between her children A 50-year-old woman, Francisca Hackman has been sentenced to 7...
5. Incest Man Jailed 7 Years Kofi Mensah A Cape Coast circuit court yesterday convicted and...
6. Man arrested for incest The Central Regional office of the Domestic Violence and Victims...
7. Unknown Kardashian sister dates, Mario Ballotelli’s younger brother? After a recent revelation that the infamous Kardashian children Kourtney,...
8. Drama in court as carpenter gets 10-year jail sentence for incest A 40-year-old welder; Emmanuel Kwesi Yevu, who is accused of...
9. 2 Incest Father Caged I SWEAR IT IS JUJU! Emmanuel Kwasi Yevu jail 10...
10. Private securityman jailed five years for incest Takoradi, May 4, GNA  – The Takoradi Circuit Court “A”...

H/T: Incest News

Ghana Continues to Prosecute Over Consensual Sex

And thankfully, journalists keep letting us know about this. Like too many other countries, Ghana still prosecutes consenting adults for having sex with each other. And, in this case, they prosecute others who simply knew.

A Cape Coast circuit court yesterday convicted and jailed a middle-aged woman, Adjoa Francisca, for consenting to a conjugal relationship between her two biological children, Kofi Mensah, and Ama Essumanba, 19, which has produced a baby.

Adjoa Francisca is said to have taken a dowry of GH¢40 from her son, Mensah, a 22-year-old driver at Abaka in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese (AAK) District of the Central Region to enable him to marry his sister.

So what is the problem?

The woman pleaded guilty when she appeared before the court presided over by Florence Kai Otoo and was subsequently jailed seven years for aiding and abetting incestuous behaviour.

Seven years. Seven years in jail because consenting adults were having sex.

Ghana’s Gotta Get With It

Here’s yet another report of consenting adults being prosecuted and persecuted for simply loving each other.

The Ashanti region town of Juaso near Tepa has been thrown into a state of shock following a revelation that a 27 year old farmer has been having sex with his mother.

The act which is said to be consensual has allegedly been going on for months.

One act for months?  They’re probably sore!

They have been fined by the traditional council to pacify the gods for the incestuous act.

Oh yes, to pacify the gods, and not at all to fatten the wallets of nosey finger-waggers.

An eyewitness account told Joy News the ‘affair’ has been going on for six months.

They let someone else watch, and now that person repays them by being a rat? Or was the person a peeper and a rat?

He named the man as Yaw Berko and the woman, Ama Osabimaa, 47.

The traditional council has confirmed the incident and imposed a fine of ¢100.00 as well as a bottle of gin and two sheep on them.

No folks, this isn’t from The Onion. I would be laughing if I wasn’t offended by the intrusion into the love lives of consenting adults.

In all fairness to Ghana, many other countries also have and enforce stupid laws against consanguinamory. That should change. An adult should be free to share love, sex, residence, and marriage with any consenting adults. Consanguinamory is everywhere, and “the gods” haven’t reacted negatively.

Ghana First Family Stuck in the Sixteenth Century

As we can see in this article at peacefmonline.com, allegations of incest remain a tool for personal destruction and political attacks, just as they have throughout history.

Dr. Sekou Nkrumah, the controversial son of Ghana’s first President says Dr. Nathan Kwame Nkrumah who claims to be the second son of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah had a point in time proposed to marry his sister Samia Nkrumah.

According to Sekou Nkrumah, he wonders why someone who claims to be the son of Nkrumah would want to marry his own sister.

Why does anyone want to marry anyone? Love, sex, companionship...

In an interview with XYZ News, Dr. Sekou Nkrumah said his siblings have challenged the authenticity of the story of Dr. Nathan Kwame Nkrumah and would only accept him if he tenders in substantive evidence to support his claims.

“My problem is that you don’t go around saying you are Nkrumah’s son when you are not. How can you be Nkrumah’s son when all this time nobody has heard of you?

It’s called… Nkrumah having sex with another woman. I don’t know if it happened or not, but it is possible, isn’t it?

Meanwhile, Dr. Nathan Kwame Nkrumah has laughed off the claims by Dr. Sekou Nkrumah.

According to him, Dr. Sekou Nkrumah has no right to pass judgment on his eligibility to be Dr. Nkrumah’s son.

He added that he is not perturbed about the difficulty in accepting him as a son of Dr. Nkrumah by the recognized children of Dr. Nkrumah.

Whatever the truth is, using allegations of consensual incest (or sexual orientation, for that matter) as a political tool is a practice that needs to end.

Ghana Prosecutes For Consensual Sex

We have another story out of Ghana where law enforcement is interfering with an apparently consensual relationship between adults.

A 60year-old farmer, Kwesi Gyimah, on Wednesday appeared before the Asamankese Circuit Court on the charge of an incestuous relationship with his own daughter.

Not only did Gyimah have sexual relations with his biological daughter, Abena Tawiah, 25, but also put her in a family way which is over 27 weeks old.

That means she’s 27 weeks pregnant.

Gyimah who pleaded guilty with explanation, was remanded in prison custody to reappear on July 27 when his explanation would be heard.

Prison? Why?

Police Inspector Francis Cobbina told the court presided over by Mr D.E.K. Daketsey that the accused stayed in the same house with his daughter at Akim Ayerebi.

He said the complainants, the family members of Abena Tawiah, who lived at Tweapease realised that Abena was pregnant.

Inspector Cobbina said when Abena was questioned as to who was responsible for her pregnancy, she mentioned the name of her father.

So it was jealous family members who rat them out.

Inspector Cobbina said Gyimah admitted that he had sexual intercourse with the daughter on three occasions in February.

Is there really not enough happening for law enforcement to deal with in Ghana? There is no indication given than this was anything but consensual sex, perhaps part of a long-term consanguinamorous relationship. Why is this a crime? If family members are jealous, that is their problem. It shouldn’t be a criminal matter. They should be allowed to marry, if that is what they want.

Prison For a Father in Ghana Incest Case

To update one of the situations in Ghana that I cited previously…

A 43-year-old mechanic, Michael Akwasi Agyapong, who impregnated his 18-year-old daughter, was on Tuesday sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court.

Again, the law breaks up a family. And for what? What is to become of the family he leaves behind?

Agyapong pleaded not guilty to incest before the court presided over by Mrs Georgina Mensah-Datsa.

However, the court, after a six-week trial, found him guilty.

They were ratted out by neighbors. The news does not cite a complaint by the woman. This was not a rape charge. It was a charge against a man for having consensual sex with another adult who was arguably in a spousal type relationship with him. Let consenting adults have their lives. Consanguinamory should not be a crime.

Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison For Consensual Sex

This news from Ghana…

Robert Akpanaga, a 59 year-old Corn mill operator who slept with his 21 year old daughter resulting in pregnancy has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.

Why?

Akpanaga, who pleaded guilty to the charges of incest under section 195A (1) of Act 29/60, was convicted on his own plea.

This was apparently consensual. Why is this a crime? If it wasn’t consensual, he could have been charged with rape.

Inspector A.A. Ahor, the prosecutor, narrating the facts of the case said the Police on February 28, 2011, received information that the accused, who operates a corn mill at Dunyo, near Mayera, a suburb of Accra, had impregnated his biological daughter.

The police should have replied, “So what?” Why tear this family apart? Can you believe that people go to prison for consensual sex with other adults?

Man Charged With Incest in Ghana

This article says he is accused of impregnating his 18-year-old daughter. The article does not give any indication that this wasn’t consensual, nor does make it clear if there she was under 18 when the sexual interaction began last year.

The victim lived with her grandmother at Akyem Kwabeng where she completed her junior High School education in 2008.

The prosecutor said during the same year she joined her father (accused) in Accra. Some where in March 2010, the accused, who was single, started having sex with the victim and as a result she got pregnant.

In July, 2010, the prosecutor said accused gave the victim to his neighbour (a woman) to help the victim abort the pregnancy.

The prosecutor said after the abortion, the accused continued to have sex with the victim until she became pregnant again in December 2010. She said neighbours who knew of the accused person's relationship with his daughter became fed up and hinted the Police who in turn rescued the victim and arrested the accused.

So apparently she did not complain; she could have, presumably, gone back to live with her grandmother, or gone to live on her own. It was the neighbors who were upset. Assuming this was consensual sex, I wonder if everyone else approves of the complaining neighbors’ sex lives?

Again, it would be good to get more detailed reporting on these matters to draw a clear distinction between abuse and consensual sex. The latter should not be a crime. It does matter, because lumping consensual sex between adults in with child abuse perpetuates prejudice.