Disappeared after Assault: The ongoing risk for LGBTQ people in Ghana

Some youth in Kwame Danso in the Sene West District of the Bono East Region reportedly assaulted 37-year-old Joseph Kumah Kwaku in 2023 for supposedly engaging in homosexual activity.

According to reports, Joseph was attacked while on his way to his farm in a nearby village after a video allegedly showing him in an intimate moment with another man, identified as Yaw Amos, surfaced in the community. The video reportedly triggered outrage, with some youth accusing Joseph of being bisexual.

Without giving him the opportunity to explain or defend himself, the youth confronted Joseph and physically assaulted him.

The assailants insisted that the alleged act was against the customs and traditions of the land, which abhors LGBTQ+ activities.

The incident sparked discussions at the time about human rights and personal safety in the area, with some calling for tolerance and lawful handling of such matters, while others insisted on maintaining community “morality standards.”

Although Joseph Kumah Kwaku claimed to know the youth who attacked him, it remained unclear whether any arrests were made in connection with the assault.

On 28 February 2024, the Parliament of Ghana passed the Promotion of Human Sexual Rights and Family Family Values Bills of 2021 in third reading; the legislation includes a prison sentence of up to three years for individuals who engage in same-sex conduct and up to five years for individuals engaged in “willful promotion, sponsorship, or support of LGBTQ+ activities.”

Joseph Kumah Kwaku didn’t sufficed any major injuries and was discharged hours after being admitted at the Sene West District Hospital.

However, reports now indicate that Joseph Kumah Kwaku and his partner, Yaw Amos, have not been seen in the community since the incident occurred in 2023, raising concerns about their safety and well-being. Some residents say they have not heard from them in months, and efforts to trace their whereabouts have so far proven unsuccessful.

The incident reflects the heightened anti-LGBTQ sentiment across the country, as well as the intense local opposition to LGBTQ rights. It also reveals the dangerous consequences of the prevailing anti-LGBTQ atmosphere, leaving Joseph Kumah Kwaku, his partner Yaw Amos, and others in the community at continued risk.

Source: Ghanaweb.mobi