In a chilling tale of betrayal, torture, and survival, a young Ghanaian man narrowly escaped death after being targeted for his sexual orientation. According to multiple sources, his life was spared thanks to the intervention of a traditional herbalist, Haruna Arimiyaw, whose decisive actions helped the victim flee the country.
The young man, identified as 24-year-old Yussif Issah , was reportedly born in Teshie, Accra, into a polygamous household. His mother, the third wife of Mr. Issah Issahaku, died when he was an infant, leaving him to be raised by stepmothers. Reports indicate that his upbringing was marked by emotional neglect, discrimination, and physical hardship.
From an early age, Yussif was mistreated and often fled to the streets, where he found temporary solace among local vendors and strangers who showed him occasional kindness. Neighbors revealed that his late mother endured years of domestic hardship before attempting to escape her marriage—a decision that ostracized her from their conservative community. That history would later mirror her son’s own fate.
Sources say that by age 10, Yussif had begun to realize he was different. He reportedly endured years of confusion and internal conflict, especially in a society where same-sex relationships are stigmatized and criminalized.
At one point, he lived with his grandmother in the Ashanti Region, who is believed to have tried to steer him toward a heterosexual path. Though he reportedly attempted to suppress his true identity out of respect for her, he lived with deep emotional distress and depression. Her death in 2013 left him isolated.
After returning to his father’s house, Yussif learned construction work and lived under increasing scrutiny. His family allegedly monitored his movements and warned him of severe consequences if he were ever caught associating with other men.
In June 2022, he reportedly met a man named Hakim at a beach in Accra. The two grew close over time, and Yussif, unaware of the danger ahead, believed he had found companionship. But sources claim the relationship was a trap. On November 27, 2022, during a private visit to Hakim’s home, Yussif was ambushed by members of the local community—including his own stepmother—who had been monitoring him.
Sources say the ambush was pre-planned. Hidden cameras were reportedly used to capture evidence of same-sex intimacy, which was then shown to community elders and relayed to his father. What followed was a brutal attack that nearly ended his life.
He was allegedly beaten by a mob, dragged into a nearby bush, and tied to a tree, where they intended to return and execute him under what they called a “community judgment.” Sources say he remained bound and unconscious for several hours.
His rescue came from an unlikely source—a woman passing by who noticed his motionless body and fled to seek help. She returned with a young man who transported him to a secluded herbal clinic.
Locals indicate that Yussif remained unconscious for three days before regaining his senses. During his recovery, he confided in the herbalist about the events leading up to his capture, revealing a life filled with torment, discrimination, and rejection from those closest to him.
Haruna Arimiyaw, moved by the young man’s story and fearing for his safety, decided to offer him sanctuary. The healer is believed to have referenced similar cases where individuals were silenced or killed for speaking up—including the high-profile 2021 killing of activist Mohammed Kaaka in Ejura.
With the help of a few trusted individuals, plans were set in motion to relocate Yussif discreetly. Eyewitnesses claim that by early April 2023, he had been escorted under the cover of darkness out of the country. The exact details of the escape remain unclear.
His exact whereabouts and condition remain undisclosed for security reasons, though those close to the rescue operation believe he is now in a safer location outside Ghana.
Human rights advocates aware of the case say the story reflects the broader dangers faced by LGBTQ individuals in Ghana, especially following the passage of new legislation that criminalizes same-sex relationships and advocacy.
“This is not just about one individual,” one activist said on condition of anonymity. “It’s about a system that punishes people for existing. What happened to this young man is not an isolated case—it’s part of a terrifying pattern.”
The heroism of Haruna Arimiyaw in this ordeal has drawn discreet praise among human rights circles. Despite the risks, he chose compassion over conformity in a moment when a young man’s life hung by a thread.
“This is a story of survival, of what happens when hate meets courage,” a source familiar with the rescue said. “He may have lost everything—his family, his home, his country—but he survived. And sometimes, survival is the loudest act of defiance.”
Africalivenews continues to follow developments in this story and will update readers if credible updates emerge. For now, Yussif Issahaku’s fate remains known only to those who helped him find his way to safety—and to the man who chose to save his life when everyone else turned away.
