THE VIOLENCE MUST END IMMEDIATELY!
The government has an obligation to ensure the safety and well-being of all its citizens. However, it has failed to protect the rights of a specific group of Ghanaians solely because of their sexual orientation. Political, religious, and influential leaders, often citing cultural and religious reasons, have incited hostility and hatred toward sexual minorities. The police also share responsibility for this failure, as they have frequently neglected to properly investigate anti-LGBTQ violence or, at times, have arrested LGBTQ individuals under discriminatory laws.
Same-sex relationships remain criminalized under outdated laws from the colonial era, causing ongoing harm to LGBTQ individuals, who face discrimination, violence, blackmail, and abuse. Politicians and religious figures often make inflammatory statements that encourage such mistreatment of the LGBTQ community.
A recent violent incident involving two young men, Mutalib Ibrahim and Mohammed Mustapha, in Accra, Ghana, highlights the extreme dangers faced by LGBTQ individuals in the country. Eyewitnesses say that Mutalib and Mohammed, both in their twenties, had long been suspected of engaging in same-sex relationships. A local anti-gay group had been monitoring them.
Although the two men kept their relationship private, they were caught in the act by a neighbor, who informed an angry mob. The incident, which occurred in February 2023, resulted in a horrific assault. Witnesses report that the men were locked in a room and tortured by the mob. Mohammed lost consciousness from the violence, and while Mutalib managed to escape, the fate of Mohammed remains unknown. It is unclear whether he was killed. Mutalib is now in hiding, and his whereabouts are unaccounted for.
Attempts to reach the Adenta Police for updates on any arrests related to the attack have been unsuccessful. The police have not disclosed any information, and family members and local leaders have refrained from commenting due to fear of retaliation.
This act of vigilante violence against the two men, simply because of their love for one another, is a stark example of the widespread hostility directed at the LGBTQ community in Ghana. The country must act urgently to decriminalize same-sex relationships and introduce and enforce robust hate crime laws to prevent such acts of violence. The police and judicial system must be reformed to better address LGBTQ-related violence and bias. Moreover, political and religious leaders need to stop promoting homophobic views that contribute to societal discrimination.
About The Author
