LGBT+ Rights Ghana - The African Mirror

Aug

2021

Ghana court drops case against 21 LGBT+ activis

A court in Ghana has dismissed a case against 21 Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT+) activists, ruling there was not enough evidence to prove they had gathered unlawfully, a prosecutor in the case said. "What this means is that they cannot be brought back to court on the same charges. So they have been freed," Chief Superintendent Akologo Yakubu Ayamga told Reuters. The 16 women and five men were arrested at a hotel in the southeastern city of Ho in May. Police said they had gathered illegally to advocate LGBT+ activities with books and flyers with titles including, "Coming…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

Ghana MPs plan law criminalising promotion of LGBT+ rights

LGBT+

NITA BHALLA A group of lawmakers in Ghana want to criminalise the promotion of LGBT+ rights, a move that comes weeks after a community centre for sexual minorities was shut down following strong opposition from politicians and church organisations. Parliamentarian Samuel Nartey George from the opposition National Democratic Congress said he and seven other MPs hoped their private members' bill to ban LGBT+ advocacy would be passed before the parliamentary session ends on March 31. "We owe it to ourselves and the people of Ghana to uphold that which gives us our identity as a people ... May we unite…

Feb

2021

By The African Mirror

Anti-gay uproar shuts Ghana first LGBT+ centre

LGBT+

ANITA BHALLA ANTI-GAY outcry has forced Ghana's first LGBT+ community centre to temporarily close to protect its staff and visitors three weeks after it opened, its founder said yesterday. Church groups, politicians and anti-gay rights organisations have called on the government to shut down the centre, run by local charity LGBT+ Rights Ghana, and arrest and prosecute those involved. "We did not expect such an uproar," said Alex Kofi Donkor, director of LGBT+ Rights Ghana, which hosted an opening event on January 31 attended by European and Australian diplomats. "We expected some homophobic organisations would use the opportunity to exploit…