By News Desk, Madina
The quiet of Kabonu Street in Madina Number 3 was shattered Sunday evening when a localized inferno levelled a family residence. This latest escalation is widely viewed by the community as a targeted arson attack linked to a controversial “homosexual scandal” that first erupted in March.
At approximately 8:10 PM on June 4, the home of Madam Abdulai Adama was set ablaze. While the University of Ghana Fire Station responded quickly to contain the fire, the atmosphere at the scene was far from cooperative.
While some neighbours lent a hand to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), a vocal segment of the local youth appeared to celebrate the destruction. Chants against the residents echoed through the street, with one onlooker suggesting the fire was a form of spiritual “cleansing” because the family allegedly refused to disclose the whereabouts of a young man named Latif.
This local violence occurs amid a national backdrop of intense calls for the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill. If enacted, the proposed legislation would rank among the most stringent anti-LGBTQ+ laws on the African continent.
Public remarks from prominent figures, including the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George, alongside comments from other influential leaders, have significantly intensified the national discourse. Critics argue that such rhetoric has emboldened anti-gay groups, contributing to a climate of rising tension in which individuals feel encouraged to pursue or mete out violent and harsh treatment against members of the LGBTQ+ community or those suspected of belonging to it.
The roots of Sunday’s violence trace back to March 25, 2023. On that day, Latif Abdul Karim and Salifu Abdul Razak, known as Alpha, were allegedly discovered in an intimate encounter inside the house.
The discovery triggered an immediate and brutal mob reaction. Latif managed to escape despite a barrage of stones, but Razak was intercepted, beaten with planks and cables, and later handed over to the Madina Police.
The current unrest is fuelled by the mysterious disappearance of Salifu Abdul Razak from police custody. Following the March riot, Razak was reportedly in a critical and barely conscious state. Under the threat of a mob surrounding the station, officers attempted to transport him for medical treatment.
However, Razak never arrived at the hospital. Sources indicate that during a chaotic standoff between police and protesters at the station gates, the suspect vanished into the nearby market area. This alleged escape has angered vigilante groups, who accuse the authorities of negligence or complicity.
By Monday morning, items inside the Adama residence had been reduced to charred remains, with the GNFS officially classifying the incident as arson.
While Madam Adama and her daughter, Hawa Ahmed, escaped with their lives, they have been left with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. Despite calls for calm from local officials, the anti-gay groups involved remain defiant, signalling that their campaign of intimidation may not yet be over.
