Salis Nasir, 25, was rushed to Dr. Kofi Boateng Memorial Hospital in Kasoa, near Accra, in a taxi, fighting for his life following a vicious attack by his Muslim brothers on the grounds that he was gay. The scene was chaotic.
Security personnel intervened with a warning shot to disperse the furious mob after Nasir’s childhood friends attacked him and his “lover” when they found out.
After stabilising at the hospital, Nasir muses over telling the police about the incident in hopes of receiving justice and protection.
“I was there for antenatal care when they brought him to the hospital reception. It was a really bad sight. I don’t know what could have happened if he had not been rescued early,” a pregnant woman who was an eyewitness recounted.
“Now that LGBQT has been declared illegal by the law, it is only right that we report any suspects to the police rather than continue this barbaric act of instant justice. It most often leads to attacking innocent people,” one of the doctors advised.
The recent anti-gay bill has made the Ghanaian community’s view of homosexuality—which is considered abomination—even worse.
The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Winnie Byanyima, has voiced grave concerns regarding Ghana’s adoption of the anti-gay legislation, nevertheless.
In a statement, UNAIDS expressed concern that if passed, the law might incite violence, obstruct access to life-saving care, and violate basic liberties, all of which could impede Ghana’s progress towards development.
Byanyima stressed the detrimental effects on public health in general and the fight against AIDS in particular.
The statement emphasised the possible harm that such laws could do to people’s freedoms and to more general attempts to address health issues.