Rainbow Faith and Freedom’s Statement on the LGBT+ Rights Centre Raid & Closure in Accra, Ghana

In recent days, a newly opened community centre for LGBTQ2S+ people in Accra, the capital city of Ghana, was forced to close after governmental and religious pressure led to protests and police raids.

The “LGBT+ Rights Centre” in Accra opened its doors in January of this year and last week was raided and shut down by security forces for being “at variance” with Ghana’s laws prohibiting same sex relationships and activities.

Traditional leaders in the area have threatened to burn down the facility and Ghana’s Catholic Bishops’ Conference issued a statement, calling on the country’s government to shut down the centre and condemning “all those who support the practice of homosexuality.”

RFF joins the growing chorus of international voices that is calling for change and equality in Ghana. We strongly believe that the rights of all citizens in all nations, whatever their gender identity, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs, must be protected and ensured. Every member of the LGBTQ2S+ community in Ghana should be entitled to feel safe and accepted.

We call on the Ghanaian government to amends its outdated and prejudicial laws that unjustly target members of the LGBTQ2S+ community in Accra and throughout the country.

You can follow #GhanaSupportsEquality on social media for updates on the evolving situation in Accra.