Young Lawyers Association Raises Concern Over Rape Law and Male Victims
Noah Ephraem Tetteh Adamtey, President of the Young Lawyers Association, has raised concerns over Ghana’s rape laws, saying the current definition under Section 98 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), does not recognise men as victims of rape. He said, however, that men subjected to non-consensual sexual acts by women could still seek legal remedies under other provisions, including indecent assault, assault, battery and false imprisonment, depending on the circumstances. His comments follow a reported case involving a ride-hailing driver who alleged that three women overpowered him during a trip and forced him to have sex against his will. Mr Adamtey said the alleged conduct could attract criminal charges even if it does not meet the legal definition of rape.
Mr Adamtey said the main concern was the disparity in the penalties attached to rape and other offences that may be available to male victims. While rape carries a more severe punishment, offences such as indecent assault and false imprisonment generally attract lighter penalties, potentially leaving male victims with less protection under the law. He noted that in certain circumstances involving “unnatural canal knowledge,” the applicable punishment could be equivalent to that for rape. Mr Adamtey therefore called for policy consideration of whether Ghana’s laws provide adequate and equal protection for men subjected to non-consensual sexual violence, while stressing that the current definition of rape does not mean male victims have no legal remedy.
