This May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. In Ghana, Parliament passed a law last February – not yet ratified – exposing people identifying as LGBT to a 3-year prison sentence. Ghanaian artist Wanlov the Kubolor believes that “ current poverty, lack of education and lack of opportunities have made the average Ghanaian angrier and more prone to hatred “.
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This Friday, May 17, is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. On the African continent, no less than 31 countries criminalize sexual relations between people of the same sex. Mauritania and Uganda even provide for the death penalty. The trend today is towards a tightening of anti-LGBT legislation in many African countries, according to Amnesty International.
As in Ghana, where Parliament passed a law last February – not yet ratified – exposing people identifying as LGBT to a three-year prison sentence. The Ghanaian artist Wanlov the Kubolor testifies to the extent of discrimination suffered by homosexual people in his country today.
“ Being LGBT is considered a sin »
“ There are so many microaggressions against the LGBT+ communityhe explains on the microphone of Guilhem Fabry. If you are a man and you have effeminate tendencies, if you sit on public transportation and you speak a certain way or your body language is a certain way, people reflect something negative back to you . You can’t really make friends since many people are embarrassed about you being their friend in public. So you feel very alone in society because nowadays being LGBT is considered a sin “.
He assures : ” Growing up, I didn’t experience as much homophobia as I do now. I think the current poverty, lack of education and lack of opportunities have made the average Ghanaian angrier and more prone to hatred. The current vice-president [Mahamudu Bawumia, NDLR], who wants to become president, is leading a homophobic campaign. As did the former president [John Mahama, NDLR] who wants to come back. The atmosphere, from the top of the state to the ordinary Ghanaian citizen, is currently very homophobic. »
Read alsoGhana: anti-LGBTQ law at the start of a legal process
On May 8, the Supreme Court of Ghana began considering appeals against the law passed by Ghanaian MPs. As the general elections approach which will be held on December 7, 2024 to designate the successor to President Nana Akufo-Addo, the question of the rights of LGBT+ people is at the heart of debates in Ghana, while the head of state n has still not promulgated the said law.