A video has surfaced online showing the moment police officers invaded a wedding venue and arrested lesbians who were getting married in Ghana.

The video obtained by GhanaWeb shows police officers shouting and pushing the attendees while making arrests. Police were later forced to grant bail and release the women arrested as there were no available female cells at the local police station.

Local journalist Okwahuhemaa Piesie Afia Pokua witnessed the event and spoke to GhanaWeb about the incident. She said the organizers tried to portray the festivities as a birthday party, but the decorations gave away the real purpose of the gathering in Kwahu-Obomen in the eastern region of the country.

Pokua said the unnamed venue was well decorated for the wedding, with a cake ready to be cut by the newly-betrothed women. The ceremony itself apparently took place in a separate room among a select group of confidants.

She said;

“I had information that some people suspected to be gays and lesbians were having a party and named the party ‘birthday party’ and they had planned to have a marriage ceremony, meaning two ladies were going to get married.

“During the event I heard the emcee saying ‘today, we have a vow to make, we’re here purposely for something whether police come or not, we go do our thing.

“When they came out, I saw a woman with what looked like a lace made into a wedding gown with a veil, bridal fan, and bridal purse, the one acting like a man was also costumed in a Nigerian outfit,” Pokua recalled, adding the two women “came out of the room as a couple.”

The lesbians were arrested for not only partaking in an activity the Ghanaian constitution, but also violating COVID-19 protocol.

It was also gathered that the landlord of the wedding venue could face charges as well. The unnamed facility which is reportedly used for various LGBTQ+ events, is also known as a location for illegal activities such as prostitution.

The landlord has been summoned to appear before Kwaha-Obomeng Chief Nana Effah Opinamen II and other elders at the regions palace to explain why he rented the facilities to the group.

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