ACCRA — In a chilling account of family resentment and targeted violence, Muniru Hassan has come forward to detail the harrowing ordeal of his stepbrother, Rabah Hakim Hassan. Rabah, a former educator, was allegedly lured into a violent ambush by a local vigilante group—an attack Muniru suggests was facilitated by the family’s own deep-seated hostility.
The incident paints a grim picture of “mob justice” in Ghana, highlighting a dangerous intersection where private family disputes meet public vigilantism.
According to Muniru, the groundwork for the attack was laid long before the physical altercation. The family had completely severed ties with Rabah, holding him responsible for their father’s death and accusing him of staining the family reputation.
”The animosity was absolute,” Muniru admitted. “We felt such a profound sense of shame and hatred toward him that it created a vacuum. He was isolated, and that made him an easy target for anyone looking to do him harm.”
The assault was not a random encounter but a calculated deception. Seeking to rebuild his social life, Rabah began communicating with a man he believed to be a genuine friend. After weeks of building rapport, the two agreed to meet in the city.
The trap snapped shut the moment Rabah arrived. Instead of a friend, he was met by a coordinated group of men.
* The Confrontation: The group immediately began hurling homophobic slurs.
* The Assault: Surrounded and with no avenue for escape, Rabah was subjected to a brutal beating, including slaps, punches, and kicks.
* Police Presence: Although a local taxi driver summoned the authorities, Muniru claims the intervention was nominal. No arrests were made, no statements were taken, and no formal investigation was launched.
The trauma of the physical assault was compounded days later when The General News, a widely circulated national daily, published a detailed report of the incident. Under the headline “Man Violently Beaten by Vigilante Group on Suspicion of Being Gay,” the paper published Rabah’s full name and photograph without his consent.
Muniru expressed shock at the level of detail the newspaper possessed, pointing the finger back at his own kin. “We strongly suspect a family member leaked his personal information and photo to the press,” he stated. “He never spoke to a journalist. He was outed to the entire country against his will.”
This case has resurfaced as Ghana continues to debate the controversial “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values” bill. Legal observers note that this incident mirrors a dark history of mob violence in the country, drawing parallels to cases cited by the late human rights lawyer Anthony Akoto Ampaw regarding the lack of protection for those accused of being LGBTQ+.
Today, Rabah Hakim Hassan is a man in hiding. Fearing for his life after his identity was broadcast nationwide, he fled his community.
”He had to disappear just to stay alive,” Muniru concluded. “No human being should be hunted or exposed in this manner, regardless of the accusations against them.”