Escalating Threats Against LGBTQI+ Human Rights Defenders in Ghana:

AHRC. May 27, 2025.

In May 2025, the climate for LGBTQI+ human rights defenders in Northern Ghana reached alarming levels of danger and hostility. In two of the most volatile locations—Tamale in the Northern Region and Wa in the Upper West Region—defenders have faced violent attacks, threats, and forced evictions simply for standing up for the rights of queer individuals.

A Growing Crisis in the North

Over the past few years, Ghana’s northern regions have seen a surge in anti-LGBTQI+ campaigns driven by traditional authorities and media actors. Among the five regions in Northern Ghana, Tamale and Wa stand out for the intensity and frequency of threats targeting LGBTQI+ persons and their allies. This crisis is especially severe for human rights defenders who provide direct support to survivors of violence, blackmail, and discrimination.

Tamale: Violence, Death Threat, Eviction, and Banishment

In Tamale, two LGBTQI+ human rights defenders became the targets of violent reprisal after supporting two queer survivors of a homophobic attack.

One defender was tracked to his home by a group of men, violently beaten, and forcibly taken to the Kpalsi Palace. There, he was fined GH₵3,000 and a goat, and banished from the Kpalsi township. His landlord subsequently evicted him, leaving him homeless.

The second defender received a printed photograph of himself accompanied by a death threat, warning him to stop “fighting for gays and lesbians” or face fatal consequences.

These attacks have rendered both defenders homeless and traumatized. With limited resources and no immediate support, they are unable to continue their work or respond to new reports of abuse in their communities.

Wa: Media-Led Persecution and Defamation

In Wa, local media outlets and influencers have played a central role in stirring violence and stigma against LGBTQI+ individuals. In May, two queer individuals were publicly outed when photos of them were shared online by social media users and radio stations, leading to widespread threats and harassment.

A journalist, Yeliminga Naa Abayema of Tungsung Radio, took this persecution further by launching a series of on-air attacks on the LGBTQI+ community.

He mentioned names, accused individuals of immoral behavior, and encouraged listeners to oppose queer persons. One of the targets of his defamatory broadcasts was a local human rights defender, whose small business has since suffered reputational damage and financial loss.

This use of media platforms to incite hatred has created a hostile environment where queer individuals and their allies live in fear of being exposed, attacked, or economically destroyed.

Impact on Human Rights Work

These incidents have had a devastating effect on human rights work in Tamale and Wa. Several defenders have been forced to cease their operations, while others have gone into hiding. Many no longer feel safe meeting community members or offering essential services like case documentation, referral support, or psychosocial care.

The systemic nature of these threats—rooted in local power structures and reinforced by media influence—has created a chilling effect across the northern regions.

Immediate Needs of Defenders Immediate needs include:

1. Security and Protection Services – Safety planning, secure communication tools, and community-based monitoring

2. Emergency Relocation Support – Safe accommodation and transportation out of danger zones

3. Legal Assistance – Representation for those facing arbitrary fines, defamation, or eviction

4. Medical Support – Treatment for physical injuries sustained in attacks

5. Psychosocial Support – Counseling and trauma healing for defenders experiencing severe stress and fear
   

The cases in Tamale and Wa are not isolated—they are symptomatic of a broader crackdown on LGBTQI+ rights and those defending them in Ghana. The deliberate targeting of activists through violence, banishment, public shaming, and economic sabotage must be condemned.

This speaks to value of off shore civil society, where an organization such as AHRC which has had decades of experience in the region can help to vet cases and can ensure recipients of funding are legitimate and people are not scammed. In general the protection and humanitarian landscape in Ghana and other African countries is shrinking and the need for support is massive, especially since the Trump administration withdrew AID and banned the USRAP program.