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LGBT+ Rights Ghana

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LGBT+ Rights Ghana
FormationJuly 13, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-07-13)
FounderAlex Kofi Donkor
HeadquartersAccra
Location
  • Ghana
Region
West Africa
Official language
English
Executive Director
Alex Kofi Donkor
Websitehttps://www.lgbtqrightsgh.org/

LGBT+ Rights Ghana is a Ghanaian organization that advocates for LGBT rights in Ghana. The organization has engaged in some forms of activism including creating the Ghana Gay Blackmail List to combat the blackmail and extortion of gay men. In 2021, the organization opened its office in Accra which led to public outrage and opposition from anti-LGBT organizations in Ghana. LGBT+ Rights Ghana's Executive Director is Alex Kofi Donkor.[1]

Activism

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LGBT+ Rights Ghana was founded in 2018 as a cyber activism blog.[2] In 2020, it created a social media page called "Ghana Gay Blackmail List" to fight blackmailing and extortion of gay men by cataloguing blackmailing incidents and providing a link for LGBT persons who have been blackmailed to submit reports. Alex Kofi Donkor, Executive Director of LGBT+ Rights Ghana stated that the page was created after many LGBT Ghanaians were assaulted, threatened at gunpoint, and robbed by blackmailers, but received no assistance from the police.[3][4][5][6]

In 2021, LGBT+ Rights Ghana opened its office in Accra and invited some diplomats, celebrities, activists, and LGBT+ persons to the event which was also intended to raise funds. This event caused outrage across the country. Additionally, there was opposition from anti-gay organizations which called on the government to shut down the organization and asked for the Inspector General of Police to arrest all persons associated with the organization.[7][8][9][10] In response, LGBT+ Rights Ghana issued a statement asserting that LGBT persons in Ghana are entitled to human rights, including freedom of association.[11][12][13] On 25 February, their centre was shut down by police.[14][15][16][17]

In March 2021, the organization condemned the public request to criminalize LGBT rights activism in Ghana.[18]

In June 2022, LGBT+ Rights Ghana has its billboards pulled down for being considered criminal, according to some members of parliament.[19][20][21][22] The organization promises to take legal action against the illegal pulling down of its billboards.[23][24][25][26]

References

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  1. ^ "Alex Donkor named an African of the Year by The Continent". GhanaWeb. 2021-12-18. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
  2. ^ "LGBT+ Rights Ghana | Born Free and Equal". Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  3. ^ Maurice, Emma (June 11, 2020). "Grindr Catfish are 'Robbing, Abusing and Blackmailing' Gay Men in Ghana, but Victims are the Ones who could be Jailed". Pink News. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  4. ^ Asiedu, Kwasi (June 9, 2020). "With Blackmail List, Gay Men in Ghana Fight Conmen Posing as Lovers". Thomson Reuters Foundation. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  5. ^ Asiedu, Kwasi (June 9, 2020). "With Blackmail List, Gay Men in Ghana Fight Conmen Posing as Lovers". Reuters. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  6. ^ "A Year of Challenges and Some Successes for LGBT People". Human Rights Watch. 2022-06-14. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  7. ^ Adjetey, Elvis (February 13, 2021). "Uproar over establishment of LGBT office in Ghana". Africa Feeds. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  8. ^ "Gays Pitch Camp in Ghana, Holds Fundraising Event Attended by Diplomats". Modern Ghana. February 14, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  9. ^ Byte, Nii Smiley (February 11, 2021). "Top Class Bigot Moses Foh-Amoaning, Who Would Be A 2nd Class Citizen in Tanzania, Calls for LGBT Rights Office Opened in Accra to Be Shut Down". Ghana Celebrities. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  10. ^ Ayamga, Emmanuel (February 11, 2021). "Government Must Shut Down New LGBT Office in Accra – Foh-Amoaning". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  11. ^ Emmanuel, Kojo (February 12, 2021). "We're Here to Stay - LGBT Ghana Responds to Foh-Amoaning". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  12. ^ Byte, Nii Smiley (February 11, 2021). "LGBT+ Rights Ghana Responds to Moses Foh-Amoaning and Media Misinformation". Ghana Celebrities. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  13. ^ "We've Got An Irrevocable Right To Exist As A Recognized Entity-LGBT+ Rights Ghana". Rainbow Radio Online. February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  14. ^ "Being gay in Ghana: LGBT community is 'under attack'". BBC News. 11 March 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  15. ^ Nimi Princewill. "Founder of LGBTQI center shut down in Ghana says he fears for his safety". CNN. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  16. ^ "Ghana security forces shut down LGBTQ office: Rights group". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  17. ^ AfricaNews (2021-02-24). "Ghana police shuts down LGBTQI office". Africanews. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  18. ^ Bhalla, Nita (9 March 2021). "Ghana MPs plan law criminalising promotion of LGBT+ rights". Reuters. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  19. ^ "LGBTQ Tolerance Billboards Destroyed in Ghana". VOA. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  20. ^ "LGBTQ billboard is affront to 1992 Constitution, pull it down or we destroy it — Sam George". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  21. ^ "Pull down LGBTQI billboard - MPs to Police". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  22. ^ "The billboard has fallen 'frat'– Sam George 'teases' as pro-LGBTQ+ billboard is pulled down". GhanaWeb. 2022-06-10. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  23. ^ Nartey, Laud (2022-06-09). "We need to know how the billboard is connected to LGBTQ before action is taken - Lawyer". 3NEWS.com. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  24. ^ "How is billboard on Tema-Accra highway connected to LBGT? – Lawyer to anti-LGBTQI group". GhanaWeb. 2022-06-09. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  25. ^ AfricaNews (2022-06-10). "Gay pride billboard pulled down in Ghana's capital, Accra". Africanews. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  26. ^ "Ghana | Uproar over LGBTQ+ billboards". MambaOnline - Gay South Africa online. 2022-06-15. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
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