A man in Accra has been brutally assaulted by a group of residents who accused him of promoting LGBTQ activities in the latest case of violence linked to Ghana’s growing tensions over gay rights.
Henry Akati, 36, believed to be bisexual, was attacked on Thursday, November 11, 2021, at Kwashiebu Lapas, a suburb of the capital, while returning from a birthday celebration. Witnesses say a group of young men cornered Akati, beat him with sticks and other objects, and confiscated his belongings.
“He was just walking home and they started shouting at him, calling him names. Then they pounced on him,” said one witness who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal.
The attackers reportedly accused Akati of being in a same-sex relationship and of “promoting gay events” in the area.
This incident adds to a growing number of violent acts targeting individuals suspected of same-sex relations in Ghana.
Last month, a 21-year-old man in Nkoranza, Bono East Region, was reportedly dragged to the palace by angry residents after being accused of engaging in homosexual activity. There, the man, identified as Yaw Barima, was forced to kneel while traditional incantations were performed over him. Elders then supervised a ritual purification, which involved slaughtering a sheep and pouring libation to “cleanse the land” of what they described as spiritual contamination.
Community leaders justified the act by citing a directive from the Queen Mother of the traditional area, Nana Yaa Dudaa Kani I, who has publicly condemned LGBTQ practices.
The broader national context remains volatile. Over 100 memoranda have been submitted to Parliament regarding the anti-LGBTQ bill, both for and against it. Leading Christian and Muslim religious bodies have expressed strong support for the bill, with leading Church of Pentecost declaring it will not support any political party that opposes its passage.
On the other hand, legal experts, human rights activists, and some civil society groups argue that the bill amounts to state-sponsored discrimination and could encourage more violence against minority groups.
Critics also warn that Ghana risks damaging its international reputation and undermining basic constitutional rights if the bill is passed.
Meanwhile, victims like Henry Akati continue to face danger and stigma in their own communities. Police have not yet made any arrests in connection with the assault.
