• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Monday, May 12, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

Politicians and religious groups are fuelling homophobic attacks on Ghana’s LGBTQI+ community

Aaliyah Harris by Aaliyah Harris
28 February 2021
in Global, Trending, UK
Reading Time: 4 mins read
164 8
A A
0
Home Global
320
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

On 24 February, National Security raided the offices of LGBT+ Rights Ghana. It came not long after the organisation opened a new LGBTQI+ safe space to provide members support and a place to socialise.

Sharing the incident in a Twitter thread, the gay rights organisation said:

This morning, our office was raided by National Security. A few days ago, traditional leaders threatened to burn down our office but the police did not help.

At this moment, we no longer have access to our safe space and our safety is being threatened. We call on all human rights organizations, and allies to speak out against these attacks and hate crimes we are being subjected to.

 

This morning, our office was raided by National Security. A few days ago, traditional leaders threatened to burn down our office but the police did not help. pic.twitter.com/FM2XVXDnJL

— LGBT+ Rights Ghana (@LGBTRightsGhana) February 24, 2021

Anti-LGBT sentiment

Since the violent attacks, the community centre had to close in order to protect staff.

Just last year in June/July, anti-LGBT rallies gathered to denounce gay rights. Now, a petition named “Shut Down LGBTQ Office in Ghana” is circulating and speaks about LGBTQ communities as an “unnatural way of life”. Meanwhile, government ministers, politicians, and religious communities – such as The Catholic Church of Ghana – actively opposed the opening of the new LGBTQI+ safe space.

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) urged the government to stay clear of supporting LGBTQI+ rights. On 20 February, GCBC issued a statement signed by their president Philip Nameeh which said:

according to the Church’s understanding of human rights, the rights of homosexuals as persons do not include the right of a man to marry a man or of a woman to marry a woman. For the Church, this is morally wrong and goes against the purpose of marriage.

Sarah Adwoa Sarfo, minister-designate for gender, children and social Protection, said that the homosexuality legalisation in Ghana is culturally “frowned upon”. And she added that ‘laws governing the State make it [homosexuality] criminal’. In the past, to a parliamentary committee, Sarfo said:

The issue of LGBTQI is an issue that when mentioned creates some controversy but what I want to say is that our laws are clear on such practices. It makes it criminal.

On the issue of its criminality, it is non-negotiable on the issue of cultural acceptance and norms too. These practices are also frowned upon.

“Colonial legacy”

Although advocacy for LGBTQI+ groups is not illegal, according to the Guardian same-sex relationships are illegal in Ghana.

In 2018, Human Rights Watch reported that The Criminal Offences Act states any form of sex which is “penile penetration of anything other than a vagina” is illegal but that the law “is a colonial legacy rarely, if ever, enforced”.

Yet, since January’s opening of the LGBTQI+ community space in Ghana’s capital, there have been various forms of online abuse, hate and death threats sent to LGBT+ Rights Ghana.

Referring to “colonial legacy”, a Twitter user spoke of “British responsibility” for the violent homophobia in Ghana:

https://twitter.com/fanoniscanon/status/1365054330961858570

https://twitter.com/fanoniscanon/status/1365054332576628739?s=20

Death threats

Shortly before the police attack, LGBT+ Rights Ghana warned on Frontline Rainbow Radio.that their lives were in danger. Around the time photos were also uploaded online showing the celebration and fundraiser to support the opening of the LGBTQI+ safe space. Frontline Rainbow Radio reported:

Executive Director Mr. Alex Donkor in an interview disclosed that they have started receiving death threats from persons who say they don’t deserve to live.

According to him, the environment has become volatile for them considering the bias and attacks thrown at them by opinion leaders and religious leaders, who have described them as demonic.

Hate crimes in Ghana are so serious and life-threatening that the LGBT+ Rights Ghana community put out a notice to community members to “keep being safe” and “strong” by being careful of the content they shared online.

Dear Community,

Keep being safe🤗🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈#TogetherWeBuild pic.twitter.com/hQvXLwNTby

— LGBT+ Rights Ghana (@LGBTRightsGhana) February 23, 2021

How you can help

Activist Matthew Blaise took to Instagram to share a short but simple guide for how we call all help and stand in solidary with the LGBTQI+ community in Ghana. The guide reads:

  1. USE YOUR VOICE: Lobby the Ghanaian government in your different country. Write to your government to speak up against the injustice meted on Ghanaian LGBTQ+ folks.
  2. ASK THE GOVERNMENT QUESTIONS: Ask the why they are bullying LGBTQ+ folks in Ghana. Remind them that the law doesn’t criminalize assembly/advocacy of LGBTQ+ rights in Ghana. And the laws that exist in Ghana are ambiguous and Unafrican.
  3. SUPPORT @LGBTRIGHTSGHANA
  4. KEEP PRESSURING THE GHANAIAN GOVERNMENT
  5. KEEP SHARING THIS

https://twitter.com/Blaise_21/status/1363564733950009346

You can also help by donating to the LGBT+ Rights Ghana fundraiser here.

Featured image via Pixabay/ Flickr – Nicolas Raymond

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

Former Ofsted chief calls on teachers to ‘sacrifice their lives’, but the teachers are having none of it

Next Post

Marr just told one of the biggest lies of the pandemic, and it could impact all of us

Next Post
Andrew Marr looking smug

Marr just told one of the biggest lies of the pandemic, and it could impact all of us

London Black Lives Matter peaceful protest

Police forces are still unable to explain why they’re so racist

Police at HS2

Forty feet high and under attack: the peaceful protestors facing the reality of a private security force above the law

Keir Starmer and a Labour Party backdrop

A local Labour Party group just 'boiled some p*ss'. Keir Starmer's, maybe?

Dominic Raab standing in front of Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Unsurprisingly, leaked files confirm the Foreign Office coordinates multi-agency propaganda programmes

Please login to join discussion
UN experts say Israel has 'criminal responsibility' for 'genocidal conduct'
Analysis

UN experts have now accused Israel of ‘genocidal conduct’ in Gaza

by Maryam Jameela
12 May 2025
A new petition calls for mandatory training for education staff on neurodivergence
News

A new petition calls for mandatory training for education staff on neurodivergence

by The Canary
12 May 2025
Retrofit For the Future campaign is taking its demands to the heart of government
News

Retrofit For the Future campaign is taking its demands to the heart of government

by Hannah Sharland
12 May 2025
DWP PIP cuts will hit over one million people aged 50 and over
Analysis

DWP PIP cuts will hit one million people aged 50 and over, new FOI reveals

by Steve Topple
11 May 2025
Fire at Moss Landing Battery site, CA North Yorkshire
Analysis

North Yorkshire battery site sparks fury – but is there an alternative?

by HG
11 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

UN experts say Israel has 'criminal responsibility' for 'genocidal conduct'
Analysis
Maryam Jameela

UN experts have now accused Israel of ‘genocidal conduct’ in Gaza

A new petition calls for mandatory training for education staff on neurodivergence
News
The Canary

A new petition calls for mandatory training for education staff on neurodivergence

Retrofit For the Future campaign is taking its demands to the heart of government
News
Hannah Sharland

Retrofit For the Future campaign is taking its demands to the heart of government

DWP PIP cuts will hit over one million people aged 50 and over
Analysis
Steve Topple

DWP PIP cuts will hit one million people aged 50 and over, new FOI reveals

ADVERTISEMENT
Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Why More People Are Seeking Legal Advice When Separating

Travel
Nathan Spears

Hungary Vignette Adventures: Discovering Hidden Gems by Car

How Social Media Affects the Mental Health of Young Adults Today
Tech
The Canary

How Social Media Affects the Mental Health of Young Adults Today