Documenting Discriminatory Profiling

For the last twelve years, since 2014, I have documented my personal experience of discriminatory profiling and harassment from Ghana Immigration Services (GIS) and Ghana Police Services (GPS). Discriminatory profiling relies on stereotypes and bias to assign criminality to certain groups of people. In Ghana, those stereotypes include presumptions about class, personal fashion choices, hairstyle (loc’d hair vs. buzz cuts), and gendered comportment. Many Ghanaians, including men with dreadlocks, people from minority ethnic groups, women whose dress styles are deemed promiscuous, and people whose gender raise questions, face discriminatory profiling by uniformed security personnel.

To date, there has not been a systematic documentation of discriminatory profiling in Ghana. By recording the stories of individuals who have faced discriminatory profiling from uniformed state agents, this project provides a space for victims to share their experiences. Documentation of violence and abuse can validate experiences, provide evidence for legal action, and help develop a framework for reparations and restitution.

Complete the form below to have your experiences of discriminatory profiling documented. You are welcome to use a pseudonym to identify yourself, but please use a real email address (preferred) or telephone number so that someone can contact you for your story. Once you submit the form, someone will contact you to schedule a conversation. With your permission, conversations will be audio recorded and stored on a password protected external hard drive to maintain privacy. Thank you for your contribution to this important project.