ACCRA, Ghana — A Ghanaian man, Abdul Rashid Yunus, has alleged that years of physical abuse, social rejection and family pressure over his sexual orientation have left him living in fear, with his whereabouts now unknown after he reportedly disappeared.
According to Yunus’ account, his ordeal began long before he vanished. He said he lost his father at the age of two and was raised by his uncle’s wife, who supported his education and enrolled him at Mercy Islamic School, a boarding school at Adenta Lakeside Estate in Accra.
While at the school, Yunus said he realised he was attracted to other boys and entered into a relationship with a fellow student. Fearing severe disciplinary action if their relationship became known, the two kept it secret until they completed senior high school and eventually went their separate ways.
After leaving school, Yunus worked as a taxi driver to support himself. He said his life changed dramatically on May 25, 2010, at about 2:00 p.m., when he believed he was going to meet a man who had expressed interest in a relationship. Instead, he said he was lured into what turned out to be a violent ambush.
According to Yunus, a group of men accused him of being gay before brutally assaulting him. He said he was beaten unconscious and abandoned beside his vehicle.
A passer-by reportedly found him and rushed him to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery for severe internal injuries. The attack, he said, left him with permanent physical scars.
Yunus said he later confided in his mother about both the assault and his sexual orientation. While she supported him during his recovery, he claimed the disclosure triggered hostility from other relatives, who feared public shame and pressured him to marry a woman.
Although he eventually married, Yunus said his attraction to men did not change. He alleged that when members of his community became aware of his private life, threats against him and some of his relatives intensified, while many of his friends cut off contact with him.
Before he disappeared, Yunus reportedly expressed fears for his safety and appealed for protection, saying he only wanted to live free from violence, intimidation and harassment.
Yunus has reportedly not been seen or heard from since making those allegations, and efforts by people who know him to establish his whereabouts have so far been unsuccessful. His disappearance has heightened concerns among those familiar with his case, who fear he may be in danger. Africa Live News has not independently verified all aspects of his account, and his current location remains unknown.
Source: www.africalivenews.com
