Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Presidency, Kofi Okyere Darko, popularly known as KOD has reportedly come under fire after posting—and subsequently deleting—photos of a same-sex couple kissing beneath Ghana’s historic Independence Arch.
The images, originally shared on KOD’s official Facebook page, showed two South African men, identified as Lue and Rue, embracing and kissing beneath the iconic monument. The pair’s bold fashion choices—one in an oversized red and black custom print suit, the other in a coordinated red leather outfit—stood out as much as the setting: the symbolic site of Ghana’s liberation from British colonial rule.
In his now-deleted caption, KOD questioned the appropriateness of the location for the intimate photoshoot, writing: “Who are they? Do your thing, but not beneath our Independence Monument.”
The post swiftly ignited controversy online. Critics accused KOD of using his platform to stoke homophobic sentiment and publicly shame the couple. Others argued that the post compromised the men’s safety and right to privacy.
Following widespread criticism, KOD removed the post without issuing a public apology or further comment.
The Independence Arch, completed in 1961 and located at Accra’s Independence Square, is a revered national symbol. It commemorates Ghana’s freedom from colonial rule and honours the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for independence.
For many, it represents unity and progress—but reactions to the photo suggest a deep societal divide over the rights and visibility of LGBTQ+ people in Ghana.