A new social media campaign with the hashtag #FreeThe21 has started on various social media platforms, chiefly, Twitter in the country.
The campaign which started early Monday morning is in solidarity with about 21 people who were rounded up by the Ghana Police Service over the weekend for unlawful assembly.
According to a statement by the Ghana Police after the arrest, the 21 are believed to be members and activists of the Lesbians Gays Bi-Sexual Transgender Queer (LGBTQ) community in Ghana.
But the arrest which was effected on Friday, 20th May 2021 at the Nurses and Midwives Hotel in Ho has angered the larger LGBTQI community on social media.
Whiles many describe the move as unprofessional on the side of the country’s security agency, others are lashing out at the government for failing to protect the fundamental human rights of the members of the community.
Yesterday, I drove 4 hours to visit the Ho 21 in jail. I’m so broken. I can’t sleep. I randomly start crying. I’m still processing so much. That could have been any one of us who work on the frontlines. #ReleaseThe21
— #ReleaseThe21 (@msafrakomah) May 24, 2021
21 individuals have been arrested in Ghana on suspicions of being queer. What crime did they commit? The “crime” that we all commit. Simply trying to live our truth. Our countries are killing us.
Please get #ReleaseThe21 trending.
Followhttps://t.co/IirWTN3CV7 pic.twitter.com/KtTWafjQTt— Queer Voices (@QueerVoices1) May 24, 2021
Release them for what. They are fixing the country
— El ‘kay’ Matardor (@WofaNe) May 24, 2021
AfED Welfare & Crises Teams Visit the Arrested 21
Following the May 20 arrest and the May 21 remand of 21 of our colleagues, the @AfedGhana Welfare and Crises teams paid a solidarity visit, yesterday, to four police stations at Ho where they are being detained#ReleaseThe21
1/6 pic.twitter.com/jFWOxPYtrG— AfED Ghana (@AfedGhana) May 24, 2021
I pray to see a future Ghana where corruption would be considered to be more criminal act than just a person sexual orientation 😌
— Mr. Richard Benim (@iamdreamchaserr) May 24, 2021
Source: obaatanparadioonline.com