Lawyer highlights gaps in Ghana’s rape law regarding male victims
The President of the Young Lawyers Association, Noah Ephraem Tetteh Adamtey, has raised concerns about a gap in Ghana’s rape laws, saying the current definition of rape does not recognise men as victims under Section 98 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). According to him, while a man subjected to forced sexual activity […]
Noah Ephraem Tetteh Adamtey, the President of the Young Lawyers Association, has expressed concern over a perceived gap in Ghana's rape laws that fail to recognize male victims. According to him, the current definition of rape in Section 98 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), does not acknowledge men as victims. Despite this, he explained that men subjected to forced sexual activity by women may still be able to pursue charges of other offences such as indecent assault, which could lead to criminal prosecution.
This scenario was highlighted by a reported incident involving a ride-hailing driver who claimed three women overpowered him during a ride and forced him to have sex against his will. Mr. Adamtey noted that the disparity in penalties for rape, which is classified as a serious felony, compared to offences like indecent assault and false imprisonment, which generally carry lighter sentences, creates an imbalance in protection for male victims.
While male victims may still be able to seek legal remedy under existing provisions, the penalties may not be as severe as those for rape. The lawyer emphasized that while the current definition of rape may not classify such conduct, this does not mean male victims have no legal recourse. However, he stressed that the available offences may carry significantly lighter punishments.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
