Police at Nkawie have launched investigations into how a popular Muslim escaped a mob attack at Nkawie Zongo in the Atwima Nwabiagya Municipality of the Ashanti region on suspicion of being gay. 

It took the intervention of some neighbors to save the victim, Adam Karikari, who, until the intervention, was accosted and dragged by the wild mob for being a “disgrace to Islam.”

They accused the victim, who is in his late 40s, of being gay and a cohort of the LGBTQ+ community in the area.

The youth accused the victim of using his private residence, situated in the popular Yariwa area, to house and shield gay people who are either rejected by the community or dine with them.

An eyewitness, Akwasi Mustapha, a Muslim who recently converted to the Christian faith 2 years ago, told Joynews he was assaulted in an attempt to save the victim and his family.

According to him, the victim, until the targeted attack, received death threats from some members of the Muslim community, adding that the plan to attack the Adams was discussed among the youth before the incident.

“I'm aware of how violent our people have become. Their understanding of LGBTQ+ issues is something else. I am happy God brought me around to save Mr. Adam and his family.”

Akwasi wants police to take decisive action to arrest and prosecute the attackers who took the law into their hands to perpetuate mob injustice.

Speaking to Joynews during a visit to the community, he said several distress calls to police for an earlier intervention to save the Adams family failed.

“I am surprised police won’t respond to our earlier calls when we needed them most. This is the time to end this impunity in our community. It is becoming too many.”

“Anyway, the policeman told me our people are too violent,” Akwasi added.

The area, also known as Yariwa Zongo, a predominantly Muslim community, in recent times has become a no-go area for people suspected to be members of the LGBQ+ community.

Our checks revealed the Adams are not the first to come under attack in this manner.

Akwasi could count at least four of such incidents in the community in the last month, but police won’t confirm.

Discussion on the Proper Human Sexual Bill in Ghana’s parliament appears to have emboldened some members of the community to act against perceived members of the LGBTQ+ community," says Adam.

This bill seems to criminalize activities of homosexuals in Ghana.

He insisted we keep his identity public since he has seen it all when it comes to LGBTQ+ in the community.

“Even children in the community know me as gay. They know. Please mention my name in the report because I am sick and tired of their actions. I can no longer hide who I am.”

Adam received machete wounds and bruises all over his body. He received the beatings of his lifetime because of his ‘sexual orientation’ for being a bisexual.

Several parts of his body were in plaster. He told the news team his attackers also took away his two mobile phones—something his attackers did to track his “male lovers.”

“I am in pain. I cannot walk around without someone supporting me,” he told Joynews.

The news team reached out to him at a location where he and the family are taking refuge several miles away from the Nkawie Zongo.

He told the team how a young man had seen him, Adam, in a very compromising position with another man.

This young man, he says, took a photo of that moment at his blindside, when he unexpectedly visited him in his house.

Adam suspects this picture, which circulated on a youth WhatsApp platform in no time, incensed the youth to launch the attack.

Meanwhile, the Nkawie Divisional police command declined comments on the matter.

The team was told the divisional commander authorized to speak to the news team was not available for comments at the time of our visit.