Elvis Okyere
A man was knocked unconscious on Saturday,September 29,2018,
After he was reportedly attacked by former schoolmates at a wedding
Ceremony in Abrepo.
The victim,Elvis Okyere, was assaulted at about 4:00 pm,according to reports.
Witnesses came to his aid and rushed him to County Hospital,a private hospital in Abrepo for medical attention.
Some of Okyere’s  former school mates said the attack was linked to an earlier incident at their school,where Okyere had been caught with his then male partner.According to them,other students beat the two after discovering them together,and both has stopped attending the school.
Enquiries are continuing to establish the exact cause of the attack.
At the hospital where Okyere was treated,a senior nurse told this reporter that examination found no serious external wounds on him.The nurse added that,Okyere regained consciousness and later left the hospital without informing medical staff.
A Growing Trend Of Violence Against LGBT Individuals.
The attack on Okyere is part of a worrying trend in Ghana,where stigmatization and violence against LGBT individuals have been on the rise.Just weeks prior,another young man in Obuasi narrowly escaped a similar fate after being threatened with castration by a group of young men.The intervention of the municipal chief executive prevented that incident from escalating.
Human rights advocates blame these attacks on deep seated traditional and religious beliefs that fuel prejudice and incite mob justice.’These acts are not only criminal but a violation of basic human rights.’said a local activist who called for urgent action from authorities to protect marginalized groups .
Many victims of such attacks either disappear from their communities or face ongoing harassment,making it difficult to assess the full scope of the issue.Calls for tolerance and education have grown louder,but progress remains slow.
Lack of Response from Authorities.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the local branch of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice {CHRAJ} prior to publication were unsuccessful.Meanwhile,the silence from local authorities and law enforcement has drawn criticism from pro-LGBT civil society groups who demand accountability and justice for victims like Okyere.
The incident has reignited conversations about how Ghanaian society can address the root causes of such violence.Experts stress importance of education and awareness campaigns to challenge harmful stereotypes and promote inclusivity.
Okyere’s story serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by LGBT individuals in communities where intolerance persists.