South African men identified as Rue and Lue at the independence square
Two South African men, identified as Rue and Lue, have stirred conversation on social media after sharing photos of themselves kissing under Ghana’s Independence Arch.
The images, which have been circulated on social media, show the couple in matching red-themed outfits, smooching under one of Ghana’s symbolic national monuments.
In the photos, one of the men, light-skinned, wore a red and black oversized tailor-made suit.
The other, who is dark-skinned, was dressed in a red shirt paired with red leather shorts and a matching leather jacket.
Their kissing moment under the Independence Arch has drawn reactions from many social media users.
While some social media users have supported the couple’s stance on LGBTQ+ visibility, many others have expressed disappointment and outrage over the location they chose for the photos.
Netizens argue that the Independence Arch is not just a tourist site, but a symbolic space that should not be used for what they describe as “provocative” messaging.
Media personality Saminiwaa addressed the controversy in a post, stating that she understands the intention behind the photos but feels the method was flawed.
According to her, advocacy should be thoughtful and avoid creating unnecessary tension.
“I fully support the fight against homophobia and the push for equal rights. But this isn’t the way to go about it. There’s a difference between raising awareness and crossing legal or cultural lines. Disregarding laws or desecrating national symbols doesn’t help the cause, it risks fueling more backlash and making it harder for those genuinely affected.
“Advocacy should inspire understanding, not provoke unnecessary resistance. We need smarter, more respectful ways to create change,” She wrote.
Another social media user labelled the act as a disregard for Ghanaian cultural values, stating that it was not about homophobia but about respect.
“This is disrespectful to our country’s culture. This has nothing to do with homophobia but rather your flagrant disregard for the people of our land. Why not go take these photos in Saudi Arabia? Or Qatar?” the person commented.
A separate post suggested it could be a conspiracy, claiming the photoshoot might have been part of a plan involving government interests, possibly to attract support or funding from international LGBTQ+ communities.
“I suspect that this is a gov’t sponsored project aimed at attracting aid and support from the LGBTQ+ community. How else do we explain the fact that this activity was taking place in a designated security surveillance zone? Guess who posted this… KOD,” another user alleged.
I suspect that this is a gov’t sponsored project aimed at attracting aid and support from the LGBTQ+ community.
How else do we explain the fact that this activity was taking place in a designated security surveillance zone?
Guess who posted this… KOD, GoG Director of Diaspora pic.twitter.com/7gKtIbAdCS
— CASTIN (@CASTINBILLZ) June 25, 2025
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