26 July 2017 — Key Watch Ghana Founded, Ghana
On 26 July 2017, Key Watch Ghana was founded by Lawrence Shone Edem Adjei. Key Watch is registered as an NGO, but not as a trans/intersex/LGBTQIA+ organisation due to legal issues in Ghana about registering organisations that work with gender diversity and sexual orientation. The organisation is an intersex-led and focus organisation that has been actively involved in raising awareness and advocating for the rights of intersex individuals in Ghana.
Founded as a support group in 2015 and formally registered as an NGO in 2017, Key Watch Ghana was created to offer solidarity, protection, and peer support for intersex individuals facing stigma, violence, and erasure. Today, the organisation leads national efforts in advocacy, empowerment, visibility, and research. From an initial baseline of just six (6) intersex identifying members, Key Watch now serves 133 intersex persons directly through tailored support programs and outreach efforts. With operational presence across all 16 regions of Ghana, Key Watch engages in community mobilisation, public education, and policy dialogue at all levels.
On February 17, 2022, during a parliamentary hearing, Shone Adjei and Key Watch Ghana made a historic appeal to remove intersex persons from Ghana’s anti-LGBTQI+ bill, affirming that intersex variations are biological traits, not sexual identities. The organisation also condemned any clauses that would legalise forced surgeries on intersex infants or criminalise advocacy.
Shone Adjei is the Founder and Executive Director of Key Watch Ghana (also known as Intersex Ghana) and also serves as Chairperson of the Intersex Movement Ghana. With over a decade of experience advocating for the rights of marginalised communities, Shone has become a leading voice in the fight for equality and justice for intersex and gender-diverse persons. As a passionate human rights defender and expert in HIV prevention and treatment services, they have played a key role in designing and implementing life changing programmes for vulnerable populations in Ghana and beyond.
More about the organisation from their Executive Director, Lawrence Adjei:
“Through a multifaceted approach, the organization has made significant strides in promoting understanding and acceptance of intersex issues within various sectors of society.
At the grassroots level, Key Watch Ghana has engaged directly with intersex persons, providing them with support and empowering them to speak out about their experiences. Additionally, the organization has reached out to traditional leaders, recognizing their influential role in shaping attitudes and perceptions within their communities. By fostering dialogue and education at the grassroots level, Key Watch Ghana has worked towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for intersex individuals.
Recognizing the importance of involving key stakeholders in advocacy efforts, Key Watch Ghana has also collaborated with the National Queen Mothers Platform. By sensitizing and mobilizing this influential group of leaders, the organization has leveraged their collective voice to champion the rights of intersex persons across the country.
This strategic partnership has enabled Key Watch Ghana to extend its reach into traditional areas and rural communities, where awareness and education about intersex issues may be limited.
In addition to grassroots engagement, Key Watch Ghana has been proactive in influencing policy at the national level. The Executive Director spearheaded a petition to the Parliament of Ghana, urging lawmakers to reject the inclusion of intersex persons in the Anti-LGBTQI bill. As a result of these advocacy efforts, intersex individuals were successfully removed from the bill during the second reading, safeguarding their rights and dignity.
Furthermore, Key Watch Ghana has utilized community engagement and social media platforms to disseminate information and raise awareness about intersex issues among healthcare workers and the general public. By fostering dialogue, challenging stigma, and promoting understanding, the organization continues to make strides in advancing the rights and well-being of intersex individuals in Ghana.
Overall, Key Watch Ghana’s comprehensive approach to advocacy and awareness-raising has been instrumental in driving positive change and creating a more inclusive society for intersex persons in Ghana.”
Vision
A society that is empowered to attain and protect the fundamental human rights of all irrespective of gender, sex characteristics or intersex variations, and beliefs.
Mission
To change attitudes and foster acceptance and respect for intersex persons as well as all humanity through empowerment, education, advocacy, data collection and dissemination.
Contact
Website
Email: info@keywatchghana.org / keywatchghana@gmail.com
+233235800897
Facebook
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Watch our interview with team members from Key Watch Ghana
We interviewed Shone Adjei and Salamatu Yakubu on the 25th of July. Watch it here:
Salamatu Yakubu serves as Management Lead of Key Watch Ghana and is an Executive Council Member of the Intersex Movement Ghana. With more than five years of advocacy experience, Salamatu has helped shape the organisation’s national strategy and built strong networks across traditional leadership, government institutions, and civil society. Her work continues to inspire action and inclusivity in the ongoing struggle for intersex recognition and protection.