Kwabena Osei-Boaten
Tue Apr 7 1998

Amanfour,
I'm a great defender of free speech, however, I'm not sure that these Ghanaian ladies posing nude on the Internet knows that the whole World is viewing their nude bodies for free. If you doubt this check out this site at www.hems.com What is the world coming to?

Nana Abont,
How the hell did you get to that site yourself? Any way you are right. Somebody is deceiving them for his selfish ends. They are inocent and cannot comprehend nor dream about what is happening to their poses. However, you and I know, especially since you just came back from home, that things are so terrible, and people, especially the ladies are so desperate that they will do anything to get out of that place. Let.s keep on praying for Ghana. Amen.

Amanfoo, This is a response to the message received from Kwabena Osei-Boateng. We need suggestions from people about what should be done concerning this disgraceful act of some Ghanaian women posing nude on the internet. I personally think it is ignorance and therefore we need to enlighten these ladies by printing these pictures and publishing them in any of the Ghanaian news magazine for them to know that Ghanaians have a high moral standards and will not tolerate such disgraceful acts in the future. I know some of us may have different views about what I am talking about, that is very normal but many may side with me.I understand and as a matter of fact I am an advocate for the so called "individual freedom" but friends I think some of the ladies have gone overboard and need enlightment. All suggetions and comments are welcome but please visit the site and see for yourself before you make a comment, www.hems.com, and you'll know what I mean. Thanks.

Steve, Amen to your response!! Last night I sent an email to the editors of Chronicle and Independence and gave them the URL and I have no doubt that they will publish the pictures after they visit the site themselves. I will encourage you and the other concerned Ghanaians to flood the local Ghanaian newspapers and the DC Embassy with emails and calls. They will wake up and protect these poverty stricken girls.

Fellow Amanfoo, You piece conveys some very interesting points. I do share your sentiments regarding morality and decorum. You definitely represent the high moral std associated with sofoline. However, we have to separate morality and legalityI totally disagree with what some of our ladies have done, but I do respect their right to behave within the boundaries of the law..

This is a reply to Steve "Seaman" Yeboah.

I checked out the site, and it's not so bad. These are women who are looking for husbands, and probably without realizing it, are coming off looking like sluts. But, it doesn't change the fact that whether you (or anyone) agree with them or not, it is non of our business. One thing is for certain, publishing their pictures in a Ghanaian magazine is not the best solution to "enlightening" these "ladies".

They are not the first and definitely not the last women to post their naked pictures on the Internet, for the purposes of finding "rich" husbands. It is happening all over Russia and other post-communist countries, as well as other poor countries all over the world (even in the USA). The sad thing is that someone is probably making money off exposing these women.

So I do not believe that this is worthwhile any ones time.

Anyway, why would people be searching that page. What were they looking for in the first place? It a free world and those women are free to do what they want. Let's stop moralising all the time...

Let's concentrate on the Amanfoo issues..that is enough....

I totally agree with Seaman's response. In as much as individual freedom ought to be celebrated, I do believe that as adults, we have a certain moral obligation to lead exemplary lives for the next generation to follow. I checked the site and believe me I was very surprised to see that some Ghanaians think this would get a decent man. Whether they are being exploited or not, I think the moment we take nude pictures and allow to get into the hands of any other person, we let go of our integrity and we really are telling the world it is okay. Sex has been exploited so much that, it is now being advertised as a means to secure marriage. Seaman even though your suggestion is radical, maybe that would serve as a rude awakening for those who are thinking about doing the same thing. If we would go ahead with this, then we,ve got include in the comments that this can never land them a man, let alone a decent guy. Amanfoo send give your feedback, and while your thinking of this, imagine if it was your sister how would you feel.

This is in response to Seaman's comment.

I read Seaman's response with a keen interest. Prior to reading his response I had visited the site and my impression was that these were completely ignorant women who were trying to find an easy way out of Ghana. And that is sad. Sad because they do not know.....

Personally, I have reservations about moral judgements. As you may all know there are lots of nude sites on the web etc. but I haven't heard anyone complain about the moral decadence of those women. In passing moral judgements there is a danger of applying double standards. An equivalent situation is this: supposing you saw a picture of a family member in a porn magazine, you might be disgusted because you consider it a shameful act that reflects on you. But if the person was unknown to you (and for that matter was completely foreign) you might look at those pics with glee.

Seaman may have had no moral judgements if those women were not from Ghana. But because they are from Ghana, it reflects very much on his dignity and for that matter the dignity of the whole nation.

I think we should all feel sorry for those Ghanaian girls whose plight is so terrible that they have to resort to these distasteful avenues. However, I wouldn't drag this issue into the arena of morality. If we want to apply moral judgements then we should not only protest the action of the Ghanaian girls but all people who expose themselves on the net.

You may personally despise pictures of nude Ghanaian women but beleive you me women of all nationalities can and do pose nude for pornographic and other pictures. I personally don't think it is such a big deal and Ghanaian women are really no different from other women. These women may be posing out of economic desperation or for some other reason but hey, who are we to cast morall judgements on what adults choose to do to themselves.

Unfortunately i think the only thing your message has done is to alert people of the fact that there are pictures of nude women on that web site!!! Which is not to say Amanfuor would lower themselves to the level of looking at a web site full of naked women!!

Even though I hate those photos I believe that the women involved have a right to do what they did. On the web page some were naked and others were fully clothed. The type of pictures must have been a choice. If anyone was coerced into taking the pictures, that is illegal. If they voluntarily made the choice then leave them alone.

In the red light district in Holland there are Ghanian prostitutes displaying their naked bodies in glass cases. You will see them in calanders and magazines. It is not happening only to Ghana. There are naked women on nude beaches, in movies everywhere in the world. At least they did not walk in the street naked. They displayed their nakedness in a place where you can decide to look or not to look.

I do not agree with the solutions of seaman and co. I think their solution is as bad, if not worse than the crime that they think has been committed. I wont be surprised if they are also against Miss Ghana candidates posing in Bikinis.

As I already said if the women were misinformed or coerced in anyway then it is a serious issue. If however they volunteered then it is their private affair

I have been to that unfortunate web site and think what those ladies (using the general definition of the term) have done, as unpleasant as it is, really falls within their rights as free people. The web is full of nude women and men, of all nationalities, seeking some comfort from showing off their bodies. It is curious logic which suggests that Ghanaians will not do what the rest of the world is doing.

I however have to say that I have seen much more beautiful ghanaian women in my lifetime!! The women on this site certainly do not represent the talent in the country and I detect a sinister attempt to downplay african talent.

I wish to invite us all to reset our sights on the issue of raising money for our Alma Mater - this issue is hardly settled. I think it does us (and Prempeh College) no good to concern ourselves with the contents of certain porno websites at this time. Those of us who really want to debate moral issues might instead want to examine the interrelated issues of corruption, poor work ethic, and accountability among public servants (and I use the latter term in the broadest possible sense) in Ghana. These, afterall, have been the harbinger of moral turpitude in Ghana, and also, if I may be so bold to say, the reason why many Amanfoo are living in economic exile.

Let the Global Fund debate continue!

Thanks for your letter. Your comments were noted. please understand that the photos we put up are very mild compared to many very pornographic photos that many ladies send to us and that we have refused them to become members of our service and destoyed the photos.

Your accusation that we have some how inticed these ladies to send nude photos is laughable at the very least and bordering on defamation.

quote ("Do you think it is appropriate to ask women looking for husbands to pose naked?")unquote

(*note: Any defamatory remarks and or unsubstantiated accusations have been recorded along with your email address for legal reasons.)

Our advise to you would be to go and face these ladies and talk to them directly. We also consider it a cowardly act to sit on a high horse and pass your ill informed morale judgments on people from afar. Sorry but we consider your suggestion of putting them on sex sites as a form of deception and degradation towards our lady members. We are an honest business and do as our members ask to be portrayed. Except for pornoghrapy which we receive many and destroy.

We also consider that your statement you are acting on behalf of multitudes of men with same views as you is without factual evidence. "Quick buck". Again a statement without evidence and a wild accusation. Thanks for your suggestions.

Regards,

Helenas.