Accra, Ghana – January 10, 2025 – In a chilling display of homophobic rage, a 39-year-old gay man identified only as Tom Reuther was savagely beaten by three young men in the bustling Kawukudi Park neighborhood of Accra late last night. The assault has ignited outrage among human rights advocates and drawn international condemnation, underscoring the perilous reality for LGBTQ+ individuals in Ghana amid entrenched legal and cultural hostilities.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as a nightmare unfolding under the dim glow of streetlights. Tom, a German national who had been quietly enjoying an evening walk after work, was reportedly approached by a group of men who hurled slurs questioning his masculinity and sexuality. “They started shouting ‘faggot’ and ‘abomination’ before anyone even touched him,” said Susan, a 35-year-old vendor who sells grilled plantains nearby and filmed part of the attack. “One of them accused him of ‘recruiting’ just because he was dressed neatly. It escalated so fast—no one intervened until a soldier passing by scared them off.”
Doctors described his condition as stable but warned of potential psychological trauma. Tom, speaking to the police from his hospital bed this morning in a voice barely above a whisper, doesn’t want to be in the news. He recounted the terror: “I didn’t do anything wrong. I just wanted to breathe freely for once. Now, I just want to go home—I thought this country was a good one; that’s why my family is here.”
This incident is the latest in a string of mob violence targeting perceived LGBTQ+ individuals in Ghana, where same-sex relations between men remain criminalized under Section 104 of the Criminal Offences Act, punishable by up to three years in prison. The colonial-era law, rarely enforced through formal prosecutions, has instead fostered a toxic environment of vigilante justice. Just this July, a gay man in an Accra suburb was beaten unconscious by a similar crowd, with media outlets later criticized for sensationalizing the footage rather than condemning the attackers. In February, a prominent event promoter suffered a near-fatal beating in the capital after his perceived orientation was outed online, prompting rare public backlash from celebrities like singer Efya, who tweeted, “This hate has no place in our Ghana.”
Activists point to the lingering shadow of the “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill,” a draconian anti-LGBTQ measure that cleared parliament’s third reading in February 2025 before stalling amid legal challenges and international pressure. Though not yet signed into law by President John Mahama, its rhetoric—fueled by religious leaders and politicians decrying homosexuality as “ungodly”—has emboldened attackers. “This bill, even in limbo, acts as a green light for mobs,” said Alex Kofi Donkor, director of LGBT+ Rights Ghana. “We’ve seen an unprecedented spike in ‘kito’ setups—entrapments via dating apps leading to blackmail or beatings. Tom’s case is heartbreaking but not isolated; it’s the norm now for many living in fear.”
“No one should have to deny who they are to survive,” said an HRW spokesperson. “Ghana must repeal these discriminatory laws and protect all citizens equally.” One anonymous poster, a queer teacher from Kumasi, wrote, “We exist, we love, we hurt. When will Ghana see us as human?” Meanwhile, religious figures who previously championed the anti-LGBTQ bill remained silent, while progressive voices, including U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie S. Sullivan, issued statements urging swift investigation and reform.
As Tom begins a long recovery—funded partly by some friends—questions loom large. Will authorities arrest the perpetrators, or will this fade into the grim statistic of unpunished hate? For now, in a nation where 60% of citizens support equal rights for LGBTQ+ people per recent polls yet violence persists unchecked, Tom’s bruises serve as a stark reminder: Progress demands more than words—it requires dismantling the fear that turns neighbors into executioners.
This story is based on eyewitness accounts, hospital records, and reports from human rights organizations. For support resources, contact LGBT+ Rights Ghana at info@lgbtrightsgh.org
