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A 35-year-old man, Shaibu Gafaru has found himself at the center of controversy and fear after being accused of homosexuality at Old Tafo, a Muslim community in Kumasi.
Reports say that tensions erupted on a fateful evening on July 5, 2023, around 10 pm, when enraged youths confronted Gafaru, resulting in his forced expulsion from the community.
According to eyewitnesses, Gafaru’s wife, Ilham Mohammed and their two-year-old daughter, Aisha Shaibu Gafaru, narrowly escaped harm thanks to the intervention of a compassionate elderly woman who provided them refuge. Our reporter observed extensive property damage inflicted by the furious mob, but Gafaru’s whereabouts remained elusive.
Subsequent efforts by Gafaru’s family to locate him proved fruitless, as both he and his wife disappeared without a trace. Their phones were reportedly switched off, exacerbating concerns for their safety and well-being.
“We don’t know their whereabouts. His phones are switched off. His wife’s phone is also switched off,” Gafaru’s relative Aliu Sulaiman said.
Aliu says the family had wanted to report to the police and feared it would not yield any positive results.
“Initially, we wanted to lodge a complaint with the police. But the outcome of previous cases discouraged us,” he said.
Shockingly, recent reports suggest that Gafaru may have fled the country in the aftermath of the harrowing ordeal, though his destination remains shrouded in mystery.
This distressing incident underscores a disturbing trend of violence targeting individuals perceived to be LGBTQ+ in Ghana, particularly within Muslim-majority communities.
Between 2022 and 2023, numerous similar cases have been reported, with victims often sustaining severe injuries as a result of these attacks.
As authorities grapple with addressing these alarming occurrences, calls for greater tolerance, understanding, and respect for human rights resonate now more than ever.
The plight of individuals like Gafaru serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for societal acceptance and protection of marginalized communities against discrimination and violence.
In a recent development, the Ghanaian parliament approved an anti-LGBTQ+ bill, effectively making the act a criminal offense. This legislation, if enacted into law, is poised to subject individuals like Gafaru, along with others who may be suspected, to potential attack by enraged youth.
While several religious factions have rallied behind the bill, urging the president to endorse it, there are contrasting views suggesting that its implementation could impede the nation’s advancement.
