Human Rights Watch’s report “No Choice but to Deny Who I Am” documents the widespread violence, discrimination, and psychological abuse faced by LGBTQ+ people in Ghana.
Although same-sex relations are rarely prosecuted under Ghana’s Criminal Offences Act, the law contributes to a social climate where LGBTQ+ individuals are frequently subjected to mob attacks, family violence, extortion, and harassment. The report, based on interviews with over 100 individuals across Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, and Cape Coast, reveals that many live in constant fear and are forced to hide their identity to avoid harm.
Victims described being beaten, threatened, driven from their homes, or forced into marriages to conform to societal expectations. In some cases, individuals were subjected to severe abuse in so-called “prayer camps” aimed at changing their sexual orientation.
The report also highlights how stigma and criminalization prevent victims from reporting crimes, as they fear arrest or further discrimination. As a result, access to justice remains limited.
Human Rights Watch argues that although Ghana presents itself as a democracy that respects human rights, there is a significant gap between its constitutional guarantees and the lived realities of LGBTQ+ people.
The organization calls on the Ghanaian government to:
- Repeal laws criminalizing same-sex conduct
- Address violence and discrimination
- Protect LGBT individuals’ rights to safety, dignity, and equality
Source / Attribution
Adapted from Human Rights Watch report:
“No Choice but to Deny Who I Am: Violence and Discrimination Against LGBT People in Ghana” (2018)
👉 https://www.hrw.org/report/2018/01/08/no-choice-deny-who-i-am/violence-and-discrimination-against-lgbt-people-ghana
