On Monday, February 22, 2021, I proudly came out and shared my story about why I denied my sexuality for years.

I knew it was high time I lived my truth and hopefully open the hearts and minds of Ghanaians to be accepting of the gay community.

I spoke about how suspicions around my sexuality left me unemployed for several months after returning from further studies in the United Kingdom early 2017.

Currently, there’s an uproar over calls for the protection of the fundamental human rights of the LGBTQIA+ community in Ghana. It’s a call in its rightful place.

Since coming out, there have been incredible outpours of love, kindness and support from some well-meaning Ghanaians and the world over.

"Incredibly impressed by Ignatius Annor’s great coming out on Ghanaian TV. The world needs role models like him’’, wrote @may17org via Twitter.

However, I have continued to receive threatening messages posted to my social media accounts from hate-filled individuals.

‘’We go take you do light soup, just tell us when you are coming to Ghana’’, @nakedusall wrote on Instagram. I choose to savor in and meditate on the love and the light that I continue to receive.

For those hate-filled persons, I give grace and empathize with you. It is my hope and prayer that you soon see and be the light-love.

And that brings me to this. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo President of the Republic of Ghana attended a local church service Saturday.

"I have said this before and let me conclude and stress again that it will not be under the presidency of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that same-sex marriage will be legalized in Ghana, it will never happen in my time as president. Let me repeat, it will never happen in my time as president’’, he told congregants, who received his message with loud applause.

I listened to the almost 1 minute clip on socials. As I pen this down, it is unclear if the Ghanaian president condemned the violent reactions/treatment being meted out to people like myself for just being who we are and will be.

Mind you we hurt absolutely no one for simply loving. Such rhetoric, Mr. President would continue to embolden those filled with hate to attack sexual minorities in Ghana.

I find it extremely disturbing. Clearly, this is against our fundamental human rights as beings.

And like I said on the JOY TV PM: Express program: "What my community is asking for is the opportunity to love like all humanity loves, just like heterosexuals have in Ghana. Again, we must be ‘’accepted as human beings deserving of respect, kindness, and dignity’’.

I remain hopeful for a brighter tomorrow. The queer community, I see you, I stand with me and I am you….Love is love.