To say that Ghanaians with albinism are stigmatized is an understatement: S ome believe their presence is a sign of bad luck , leading their parents to avoid acknowledging them or even to try to kill them. Others believe their body parts can bring fortune and prosperity, prompting people to kill them or traffickers to sell them for their body parts — though this happens less in Ghana than in other African countries like Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania.

In a population of roughly 28 million people, Ghana has approximately 2,000 individuals with albinism, according to Kwame Andrews Daklo, a social worker focused on albino advocacy with Engage Now Africa, a nongovernmental organization that provides medical services, clean water and business training to communities in Ghana and other African countries.

People in Ghana with albinism have been largely isolated from one another and unable to get the resources to help them battle the unforgiving sun and a world that thinks them disposable. But in recent years, they have forged connections on platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp, turning a societal stigma into social bonds and offline friendships.

Experiences for people living with albinism vary according to class, age and how pervasive the condition is on the body , but for those living in Accra and in rural villages outside of the capital city, the stigma often leads to severe neglect and ridicule.