The New Patriotic Party has renewed pressure on President John Dramani Mahama to take decisive action on the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, accusing his administration of retreating from earlier commitments.
Addressing a press briefing on Tuesday, April 7, at the party’s headquarters in Asylum Down, John Ntim Fordjour, Member of Parliament for Assin South, said the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) had significantly altered its position on the controversial bill since assuming office.
“NDC portrayed the NPP government as indecisive… but the moment they assumed power, they replaced their strong stance in opposition with rhetoric. They moved from ‘pass the bill’ to ‘manage how it is introduced and structured,’” he said.
Rev. Ntim Fordjour argued that the urgency previously attached to the legislation had diminished under the current administration.
“The urgency has already evaporated, and his certainty dissolves into procedural language when he goes to America, but tells Ghanaians at home he is against LGBTQ+,” he stated.
He further warned that ongoing constitutional review discussions could have broader implications for LGBTQI-related issues in Ghana.
“These recommendations, if adopted, could open the door for the recognition of LGBTQ concepts within our constitutional framework,” he cautioned.
“This is not just a legal matter; it is an issue that goes to the heart of our values as a nation. Embedding such provisions in the Constitution will have far-reaching consequences for our moral and cultural identity,” he added.
Rev. Ntim Fordjour also claimed that religious and traditional leaders had previously been assured of the bill’s priority status under an NDC administration.
“We were made to understand that this bill would be treated as a priority if they came into office. What we are seeing now is a clear shift, and it amounts to a betrayal of the trust reposed in them by religious and traditional leaders,” he said.
