A 42-year-old man, Isaac Osae Adum, in the Techiman Traditional Area of the Bono East Region, narrowly escaped death after being severely beaten by a group of youths who suspected him of being homosexual.
Adum had previously denied long-standing rumors about his sexuality, which were fueled by his lack of female companionship and his circle of male friends. However, the situation escalated when a childhood friend visited his house, allegedly caught Adum in a compromising position with another man, photographed them, and spread the image throughout the community.
The shared photo ignited intense anger among local youths, who marched to Adum’s house armed with weapons and administered a violent beating. He was saved only by the intervention of several good Samaritans and was subsequently rushed to the hospital for treatment.
The harassment continued after the attack; Adum and his family have been subjected to constant intimidation, late-night threats, and harassment, with the youths warning him to leave the community. An eyewitness described the beating as “harsh” and noted that the ongoing torment has led Adum to express thoughts of suicide.
