A young man, Daniel Peprah, has recounted a violent assault he says he suffered on March 12, 2023, in Winneba after attending an LGBTQ+ community gathering.
According to his account, the incident occurred at about 4:00 p.m. while he was returning home from the event, where he had encouraged participants to remain resilient and authentic in the face of social pressure.
Peprah said he was confronted by a group of men he recognized from his neighbourhood, who accused him of supporting homosexuality and promoting what they described as “Western values.”
He alleged that the confrontation quickly escalated into a physical attack.
“They surrounded me and before I could respond, they began beating me,” he said. “They punched me repeatedly in the face and ribs, and struck me with sticks and their fists.”
Peprah indicated that the assault left him disoriented and fearing for his life after he fell to the ground during the incident.
“I thought I might die,” he added.
He, however, managed to escape during the attack after one of the assailants reportedly lost grip of him. Peprah said he fled through a narrow path behind nearby houses and sought refuge at the residence of a friend, identified as Abraham Adji e.
“When he saw my condition, he was deeply distressed,” Peprah recounted.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about mob violence and intolerance, particularly in relation to perceived or actual support for LGBTQ+ rights in parts of Ghana.
There has been no official confirmation from law enforcement authorities regarding arrests or investigations linked to the alleged attack at the time of filing this report.
Advocacy groups have repeatedly called for increased public education, protection of individual rights, and stronger enforcement of laws against assault and mob justice.
