36-year-old Henry Akati assaulted in Accra over alleged promotion of LGBTQ activities amid rising tensions

A 36-year-old man, Henry Akati, believed to be bisexual, was brutally assaulted by a group of residents in Kwashiebu Lapas, a suburb of Accra, on Thursday, November 11, 2021. The attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents linked to Ghana’s growing tensions over gay rights, according to reports from GBC Ghana.

Witnesses say Akati was returning home from a birthday celebration when a group of young men confronted him. The attackers shouted insults, accused him of being in a same-sex relationship, and promoting LGBTQ events in the area before cornering and beating him with sticks and other objects. They also 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 requested anonymity for fear of reprisal.

This incident reflects an alarming increase in violence and harassment targeting individuals suspected of same-sex relations across Ghana. Community watch groups and residents in various parts of the country have reportedly intensified their hostility towards the LGBTQ community.

In an interview with Fernil News, a member of Accra’s LGBTQ community, who wished to remain anonymous, described the pervasive climate of fear and exclusion. “We are not safe. Our friends and family cannot come to us. I have been attacked, and several families have warned their children not to come around me. Our social life is taken away from us,” the individual said.

Religious and community leaders continue to publicly condemn LGBTQ activities, labeling them as immoral and harmful to societal values. This widespread opposition has contributed to the ongoing marginalization and violence against LGBTQ individuals in Ghana.

Human rights organizations have expressed concern over the rising hostility and called for increased protection and respect for the rights of all citizens, regardless of sexual orientation.