Gay rights in Ghana

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While Ghana is generally recognised as a tolerant and friendly society, the legal and social status of homosexuality remains controversial, due mainly to the conservative nature of Ghanaian society.

Contents 1 Legal position 2 Protection based on sexual orientation in law 3 Recognition of same-sex couples 4 Gay life in the country 5 Lesbian and gay conference banned 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Legal position

Under Ghanaian law, male homosexual activity is officially illegal. Gay men can also be punished under provisions concerning assault and rape, only if "in public or with minor".

Criminal Code 1960- Chapter 6, Sexual Offences Article 105:

Whoever is guilty of unnatural carnal knowledge— (a) of any person without his consent, is guilty of first degree felony; (b) of any person with his consent, or of any animal, is guilty of a misdemeanor.^[1]

The Constitution of Ghana guarantees the protection of all human rights for Ghanaian citizens "whatever his race, place of origin, political opinion, colour, religion, creed or gender", but does not mention sexuality.[2]

[edit] Protection based on sexual orientation in law

Ghanaian law does not allow for specific anti-discrimination treatment of defendants.

[edit] Recognition of same-sex couples

There is no legal recognition of same-sex couples under Ghanaian law.

[edit] Gay life in the country

Ghanaian law officially bans homosexuality in Ghana. In Accra, very few gay and gay-friendly bars can be found, and the gay scene in Accra is considerably less noticeable than in Western countries. In Ghana's other large cities, such as Kumasi and Tema, gay social life exists, but on a less noticeable level. In rural areas, homosexuality is generally not accepted and many rural Ghanaians do not accept that homosexuality exists.

The British newspaper Capital Gay reported on October 21, 1994, that a homosexual man from Ghana was granted temporary asylum in South Africa after persecution for his sexual orientation.

According to an August 2004 Afrol News report, Prince MacDonald‚ the leader of the organisation for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals in Ghana, commented that "there are lots and lots of people in our prisons who have been caught by this unfriendly law." He said that the police beat and punish people who are found to be gays^[3].

The website Gaydar hosts profiles of gay men from Ghana, suggesting that laws concerning homosexuality are not strictly enforced.

[edit] Lesbian and gay conference banned

On September 1, 2006, the Ghanian government banned^[1] an LGBT rights conference that was scheduled to take place on September 4 at the Accra International Conference Centre and at a venue in the city of Koforidua.

The Information Minister Kwamena Bartels said: "Government would like to make it absolutely clear that it shall not permit the proposed conference anywhere in Ghana. Unnatural carnal knowledge is illegal under our criminal code. Homosexuality, lesbianism and bestiality are therefore offences under the laws of Ghana."

The Information Minister was reported to have said that the Interior Minister should investigate and punish those who had given initial permission to the organisers.

[edit] References

1. ↑  ILGA legal survey on gay rights in Ghana
2. ↑  Afrol News "Ghana's gays organise to fight British criminal law" August 19, 2004. Accessed March 3, 2006. <http://www.afrol.com/articles/13832>

[edit] External links

• "Ghana" Behind the Mask, a website on gay and lesbian affairs in Africa. Accessed March 9, 2006. <http://www.mask.org.za/index.php?page=ghana>