An LGBT organization in Ghana has finished training its first class of 20 paralegals tasked with providing support to LGBT Ghanaians whose rights have been violated. The Accra-based Solace Brothers Foundation has trained the volunteers to provide legal, counseling, and security support to the LGBT community. The program was funded with a grant from the Canadian Embassy in Ghana.
Gay male sex is illegal in Ghana, however sexual activity between females is not outlawed, and LGBT people are entitled to normal civil rights. Members of the LGBT community, however, regularly face harassment from authorities and society at-large. The paralegals can be contacted via a hotline to provide legal support and advice to individuals who have been subjected to discrimination.
One of the Foundation’s volunteers told The Guardian that the training, “made us very aware that a police officer cannot arrest you when someone comes and says they suspect people are gay. Many [LGBT] people are surprised… and so it is really good information for community members and the police themselves.” The group hopes that by providing more information to LGBT Ghanaians, as well as to government entities, life will improve for the LGBT community.