LGBTQI+ Bill: Minority Accuses Mahama Of Hypocrisy

John Dramani Mahama is accused of hypocrisy yesterday in Accra by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) over the handling of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill. John Ntim Fordjour, Member of Parliament for Assin South, said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had shifted from strong advocacy of the bill while in opposition, to what he described as a cautious and non-committal stance in government.

The NPP said the bill, introduced in 2021 as a private member's initiative, received bipartisan backing. Rev. Fordjour argued that the NDC projected the bill as a reflection of Ghanaian cultural and religious values and used it as a major campaign issue, ahead of the 2024 elections, while criticising the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for delays. The NPP cited remarks attributed to President Mahama suggesting that his administration is focused on addressing "basic needs," with the bill no longer a top priority. The NPP claimed there were contradictions between government assurances and recent developments in the education sector.

The NPP is urging President Mahama to realign his administration's priorities by facilitating the introduction of a government-sponsored bill to address the matter. It also called on the NDC to apologise to religious bodies, traditional leaders, and civil society groups over what it described as inconsistencies in its position. The party is putting pressure on Parliament to expedite consideration of the legislation, urging Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, to ensure swift action once the bill is reintroduced.