The IGLA-RIWI [International LGBTI Association and a global survey technology company] 2016 Global Attitudes Survey on LGBTI people in partnership with LOGO [entertainment brand inspired by the LGBT community] noted the following results:

• Being LGBTI should be a crime

  • Strongly agree – 43%

  • Somewhat agree – 11%

  • Neither – 21%

  • Somewhat disagree – 5%

  • Strongly disagree – 20%

• How would you feel if your neighbour was gay or lesbian?

  • No concerns – 46%

  • Somewhat uncomfortable – 18%

  • Very uncomfortable – 36%^{[footnote 101]}.

8.1.2 The Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability (ACILA) conducted a study in June 2017 to gauge Ghanaians’ attitudes towards LGBTI issues. ACILA stated in its key findings:

• ‘‘More than 87% of Ghanaians say they know the 1992 Constitution of Ghana guarantees human rights to all persons in Ghana.

• ‘Ghanaians are aware (81.5%) that Ghana is required by the UN, other international instruments and obligations, as well as the 1992 Constitution to protect the rights of all citizens in Ghana.

• ‘About two-thirds of Ghanaians (60.7%) are not aware Ghana has committed to provide Equal Protection of the Law from violence and discrimination to all persons including LGBTI people under the United Nations Universal Periodic Review mechanism.

• ‘More than two-thirds (70%) of Ghanaians are unaware the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has a “Discrimination Reporting System” for reporting on violence and discrimination against LGBTI persons and other minorities.

• ‘Ghanaians are more concerned about the perceived negative consequences of LGBTI issues than armed robbery, high cost of living, unemployment, galamsey [unregulated gold mining], rape/defilement, and poor infrastructure. Corruption was the number one concern followed closely by LGBTI issues.

• ‘About 60% of Ghanaians “strongly disagree” or “disagree” LGBTI persons deserve equal treatment as heterosexuals.

• ‘A significant number of Ghanaians (87%) are against allowing LGBTI persons to hold public meetings. Ninety-one per cent of Moslems are against allowing LGBTI persons to hold public meetings; Christians (87%), Traditionalists (73.1%); and Atheists (33.3%). Respondents in the Volta Region had the highest approval (19.4%) allowing LBTI persons to hold public meetings.

• ‘More than 97% of Ghanaians are aware the Police has a responsibility to protect every citizen against mob injustice, and “strongly agree” or “agree” by 94% that any person who engages in mob activity should be brought to justice. However, 20% “strongly disagree” or “disagree” that the Police has a responsibility to protect LGBTI persons against mob injustice.

• ‘Majority of Ghanaians (80%) are “very uncomfortable” or “uncomfortable” associating themselves with LGBTI persons. However, about 67% will receive emergency medical treatment from a nurse or doctor they perceive as LGBTI. Thirty per cent of Christians; 40% of Moslems; and 50% of Traditionalists will not receive emergency medical treatment from a nurse or medical doctor who is perceived as LGBTI. Forty-four per cent of Ghanaians who are 51 to 61 years will not receive emergency medical treatment from a nurse or medical doctor who is perceived as LGBTI.

• ‘About 13% of Ghanaians will “physically abuse”, “verbally abuse” or “force” an LGBTI person to hide his or her identity if they discover a person who is LGBTI. … (45.3%) will “socially shun” an identified LGBTI.

• ‘More than 75% of Ghanaians applaud homophobic statements by state officials. Only 24.5% say homophobic statements should be condemned.

• ‘Thirty-six per cent of Ghanaians are of the opinion that LGBTI people should be discriminated against in job search, religious association (10%) and public appointment (9.16%).

• ‘More than 54% of Ghanaians say expelling students perceived to be LGBTI should be promoted.’

8.1.3 Afrobarometer ‘is a pan-African, nonpartisan survey research network that provides reliable data on Africans’ experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and the quality of life… Afrobarometer conducts face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice with nationally representative samples. The Afrobarometer team in Ghana, led by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), interviewed 2,400 adult Ghanaians between 16 September and 3 October 2019.’. In a July 2021 dispatch on social tolerance, Afrobarometer found:

‘While unfair treatment based on ethnicity, religion, and economic status are not rare occurrences, most Ghanaians express tolerant attitudes toward their neighbours from different ethnic groups, religions, and nationalities. But very few extend the same level of tolerance to people in same-sex relationships

‘… fewer than one in 10 (7%) say they wouldn’t mind living next door to someone in a same-sex relationship… The 93% who say they would “somewhat dislike” or “strongly dislike” having homosexual neighbours place Ghana near the top in terms of intolerance across 23 African countries surveyed between late 2019 and early 2021, well above the 80% average… Intolerance toward people in same-sex relationships is pervasive across age groups, religious affiliations, and urban as well as rural locations. Citizens with no formal education are slightly less likely to express intolerance (88%) than their more educated counterparts (91%-95%).’

8.1.4 The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for British nationals stated: ‘There is little tolerance towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Ghana and many Ghanaians don’t accept that such relationships exist.’

Kwasi Amanfi v John Ashcroft (Attorney General of the United States) 2003