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LGBT in Ghana: Public Opinion and Life

Ghana is currently ranked within the least tolerant countries towards homosexuality. Polling conducted in Ghana illustrates these trends of intolerance, but the opinions that Ghanian citizens share about homosexuality are also followed through with tangible acts of discrimination. While Ghana's prospects for democracy and development are positive, the current public state of LGBT rights in Ghana is one of intolerance, and while international actors may aim at easing the discriminations LGBTs face in Ghana, there statements of support have no affect.

Polling

According to the Afro-barometer, Ghana’s general public is intolerant of homosexuality. Ghana places amongst the twenty least tolerable countries. When asked if they would care if they were neighbors to homosexual(s), only 11% of Ghana’s population reported that they would be fine with this. The continental average for African countries is 21%, so this places Ghana as nearly two times more intolerable towards homosexuals than the rest of the continent.

When compared to other issues of differences, such as people of a different ethnicity, different religion, foreign workers, or people infected with HIV/AIDS, Ghanaian citizens still reported having the most disliked towards those who identify as a part of the LGBTQ community. With 89% of Ghanaians sharing that they strongly/somewhat dislike LGBTQ individuals, this makes them the most disliked group in the country of Ghana. Additionally, when examined as to who is being polled, all different demographics—those of a different age, education, religion, living style (rural or urban,) gender—all of these differing groups, respectively, hold a taste of dislike towards homosexuals of 80% or more. However, when individuals are more in contact with those of an LGBT identity, they are prone to be more tolerable.

Ghanian’s intolerance towards homosexuals stems from their unfamiliarity with this population, but it also stems from the laws that Ghana has in place and the religiosity of many citizens. In Ghana, it is illegal to engage in sexual acts with someone of the same sex, as they are viewed as unnatural. While this law is rarely enforced through legal punishment, Ghanians have strong belief in this law, and reporting such sexual acts to the police. Nearly 90% of Ghanians shared that they would report a daughter, relative, friend, or co-worker to the police if they knew that they were engaging in such behavior. This type of reporting to police officials occurs in Ghana; in 2016, a 29 year old lesbian-identifying individual’s father reported her to the police.

While Ghana still has no concrete laws on those who simply identify as LGBT, many citizens support such legal action. 86% of Ghanians stated they would support legislation to criminalize those who are in same-sex relationships. If such legislation is enacted, this would be a new and stricter law for those who identify as LGBT.

Personal Experiences

One of Ghana’s strictest LGBT laws, which is referred to as the “anti-gay” law, is found in section 104(1)(b) of the 1960 Criminal Offenses Act (Act 29.) This law states that it is illegal for members of the same gender to engage in sexual activity. It does not outrightly make it illegal to be LGBT in Ghana, but many Ghanians use it to justify discrimination and violence towards the LGBT community.

Pearl, a 30-year old lesbian woman from Ghana, shares that, while the law is hardly enacted, Ghanians often take action into their own hands with dealing with the LGBT community. Pearl shares that in September of 2009, she was taken to a conference room in her village, amongst 50 other villagers. In this room, Pearl was repeatedly asked if she was lesbian, and when she would state that she was not, village members would beat her. Amongst these villagers was a police officer who kicked her and a young boy who wanted to burn her alive. While they are not enforcing their criminal codes, even Ghanian police entertain this type of discrimination.

Pearl’s story is shared by many other LGBT Ghanians. It is often viewed as shameful and as a disgrace for people to have family members that identify as LGBT. Emelia, a thirty year old woman, shared that when her father discovered her lesbian-ness, he beat her with his fists and a broken beer bottle. Similarly, Agnes, a 26 year old, shared that when her father discovered her sexuality, he chased her out of her house with a machete, and threatened to murder her if she returned. The type of violence LGBT-identifying peoples face in Ghana is found not only in community settings, but also in familiar settings, such as one’s family.

On top of facing violence within their communities and homes, there are anti-gay vigilante groups that actively aim at discovering LGBT identifying peoples in their communities. A 10-person vigilante group had been monitoring a man, Ebenezer Okang, and one night visited his home to beat him, and with the intentions to burn him alive. When asked if he had reported the event, Okang shared that it is difficult to seek protection in such situations, given Ghana’s anti-LGBT laws and the police attitudes. According to Human Rights Watch, discrimination towards LGBT individuals in common in public and private, making it difficult for them to seek help.

This same type of discrimination was highlighted in the United Nations special rapporteur’s report on human rights and poverty report in Ghana. The rapporteur highlighted that, while Ghana is doing well in democracy and its development goals, a quarter of the population lives in poverty. Most notably, LGBT-identifying individuals are often most subjected to this type of poverty. Given their sexual orientation, it is difficult for them to find jobs. Additionally, since many families disown their LGBT family members, this can leave them homeless. The rapporteur recommended that Ghana repeal its legislation on adult consensual same-sexual activities, and that the government launch a public campaign to educate on the rights and legal and social services of those who are victims of sexual discrimination.

Publicity Effects

The current state of LGBT rights in Ghana does not appear to be getting better soon. Many public officials from government and church organizations are publicly against the LGBT community. In March 2020, the National Women’s Organizer of the National Democratic Congress shared that homosexuals should be killed. Many pastors speak out against the LGBT community, such as Kofi Tawiah, Head Pastor of the Osu Church of Christ, who called on all Ghanian Christians must rise up and fight for justice in their country, which to him is the unacceptance of homosexuality. LGBT Ghanians face exclusivity all around them, and in different areas of society. At the Accra International Airport, a sign states, “Ghana does not welcome pedophiles and sexual deviants.” While not explicitly referencing the LGBT community, Ghanians associate sexual deviance with the LGBT community.

Unlike the statements publicly made in Ghana, international organizations speak out against the discrimination LGBT peoples in Ghana. In the Commmonwealth Heads of Government meeting, former UK Prime Minister warned that African countries in which LGBT discrimination exists could lose foreign aid, if they did not change their ways. However, when such international statements are made, they are often faced with internal backlash in Ghana. At the time, President John Atta Mills shared that he would never support any type of legislation to legalize homosexuality in Ghana. Such statements can further ignite the discrimination towards the LGBT community. African groups that are pro-LGBT rights also view these international statements unfavorably, as they are often viewed as statements that do not support their advocacy, and only reignite the hate and discrimination towards them.