Ghana’s rape law does not recognise men as rape victims – Lawyer

President of the Young Lawyers Association, Noah Ephraem Tetteh Adamtey, has raised urgent concerns over a critical gap in Ghana’s Criminal Offences Act regarding male victims of sexual violence.

He stated that under Section 98 of Act 29, the current statutory definition of rape fails to recognize a man as a victim when subjected to forced sexual acts by women.

His comments follow a reported incident where a male ride-hailing driver alleged that three female passengers booked his vehicle, overpowered him during the trip, and forced him into sexual activity against his will.

The victim revealed that despite resisting, he was completely overwhelmed and felt uncertain about reporting the matter to the police because of his gender.

Clarifying the legal situation, Adamtey explained that while a male victim cannot pursue a rape charge under current law, perpetrators can still be prosecuted using alternative criminal charges.

He noted that forced sexual contact can be prosecuted as indecent assault, while trapping a victim inside a vehicle supports additional charges of assault, battery, and false imprisonment.

However, Adamtey pointed out a major disparity in sentencing, emphasizing that while rape is a top-tier felony with severe penalties, charges like indecent assault and false imprisonment carry far lighter punishments.

He noted that the only instance where a male victim might secure a remedy equivalent to a traditional rape charge is if the act legally meets the threshold of unnatural carnal knowledge.

The legal head described the situation as a pressing legislative issue, calling on policymakers to review whether Ghana’s legal framework adequately protects male victims of non-consensual sexual violence.