Ghanaian Man Flees Abroad As Anti-LGBTQ+ Debate Intensifies
A Ghanaian man from Offinso in the Ashanti Region has reportedly fled abroad following alleged threats to his life over his sexual orientation amid growing anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments in the country.
The man, identified as Declan Ofori Konadu, is alleged to have gone into hiding after he was reportedly caught engaging in same-sex activity with another man in August 2022.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the incident occurred late at night inside a parked vehicle when two passersby allegedly discovered the pair and raised an alarm, attracting a mob to the scene.
While Declan reportedly escaped during the confusion, his alleged partner is said to have been severely assaulted by angry residents before being handed over to traditional authorities in the community.
The incident reportedly triggered outrage within the town, with information spreading rapidly among residents and surrounding communities.
Sources claim traditional leaders declared Declan wanted for allegedly violating customary values and desecrating the land through homosexual acts, which some residents reportedly considered a taboo.
The development is said to have brought tension and embarrassment to his family, eventually leading to the collapse of his marriage.
It is alleged that his wife later divorced him after news of the incident became public, while some relatives reportedly disowned him amid pressure from community members demanding his whereabouts.
Following the incident, Declan is said to have fled first to Sunyani before relocating to Accra after allegedly receiving information that some persons were searching for him.
Sources indicate he spent several months indoors in Accra out of fear for his safety before eventually securing travel documents and a Canadian visa to leave the country.
The case has emerged at a time when discussions surrounding LGBTQ+ rights in Ghana continue to dominate public and political discourse.
Although same-sex sexual relations remain criminalized under Ghanaian law, Parliament has in recent years intensified efforts to pass stricter legislation targeting LGBTQ+ activities through the controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
The proposed legislation seeks to impose harsher punishments on persons involved in same-sex relationships and criminalize the promotion, funding and advocacy of LGBTQ+ activities in the country.
Supporters of the bill argue that it is necessary to preserve Ghanaian cultural, religious and family values, while critics and international human rights organizations warn that it could fuel discrimination, violence and social exclusion against suspected LGBTQ+ persons.
The bill, which was previously passed by Parliament but did not receive presidential assent before the dissolution of Parliament, has since been reintroduced for consideration by the current legislature.
Human rights advocates have meanwhile expressed concerns that the increasing anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and public hostility could expose individuals accused of homosexuality to mob attacks, rejection and persecution in some parts of the country.
