As Ghana finalizes discussions on whether or not to pass the Anti-LGBTQI+ Bill, some citizens have already taken the law into their own hands. In the late hours of Saturday, November 13, 2021, a young man, suspected of being gay, was lynched in Tabora, No.6, a suburb of Accra. The young man, who has been identified by the police as Mr. Philip Asare, was 32 years of age and a resident of Tabora, No. 6.
Police investigations have revealed that, following the ongoing discussions on gays and lesbians, residents of Tabora No. 6 and its environs have expressed their passionate support on the need to pass the Bill and criminalize such sexual acts. To this end, the community had begun fishing out suspected gays and lesbians. This unapproved search led to Mr. Philip Asare, who was suspected of being in such a relationship with Mr. Sylvester Gablah who also lives in Alhaji (a nearby community). The residents had studied the two and concluded that the two were involved in this illicit affair and were devising ways of “punishing” the two, to serve as a deterrent to others.
Thus, on Saturday, November 13, 2021, around 11 pm, Mr. Philip Asare was escorting his alleged gay partner, Mr. Sylvester when they were ambushed by some young men with machetes, clubs, and other “weapons”. The two took to their heels but Philip was caught and Sylvester escaped. Reports state that Philip was beaten with all the weapons and bled profusely. When the mob realized the severity of his bleeding, they left him to die.
Sylvester, who returned to check on his gay partner, met him lifeless. He was pronounced dead on arrival, having reached the Urgent Care Hospital. The police are still conducting investigations into the matter.
However, it is evident that the life of Sylvester is in danger, as it is rumored that the community is seeking to complete what they have started. Sylvester is currently on the run and he has not been seen nor heard of, since the incident.
It is important that the Police intensify its investigations and security into matters of gays and lesbians before innocent men and women are murdered.
