The Minority Caucus has stated that President John Dramani Mahama’s assent to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, passed on Friday, would be of little relevance because the legislation is not fit for purpose.
According to the caucus, unlike the bill passed by the Eighth Parliament, the new version does not prohibit the promotion of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Queer (LGBTQ) activities due to amendments and exemptions included in it.
Addressing a press conference in Parliament yesterday, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin South, Rev. Ntim Fordjour, said the Minority would only commend President Mahama if he assents to the original bill passed by the Eighth Parliament.
Rev. Fordjour argued that Clause 9 of the new bill exempts journalists, lawyers, and professionals providing medical, surgical, psychological, or counselling services to persons involved in LGBTQ activities.
He said such an exemption encourages the promotion of such activities, contrary to the intent of the original bill.
“We want the old bill to come because it is what has the teeth to bite. If what they want to say that what President Akufo-Addo couldn’t do, President Mahama has come to do, then it is important that President Mahama signs the old bill in its original shape and form,” he said.
He further claimed that President Mahama had indicated that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, was not submitted to former President Akufo-Addo for assent.
The Assin South MP therefore urged Parliament to submit the original bill passed by the Eighth Parliament to President Mahama.
Rev. Fordjour also accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Majority Caucus of double standards, arguing that it supported the passage of the original bill while in opposition but has now amended it.
He dismissed suggestions that both the Minority and Majority caucuses had set up President Mahama and former President Akufo-Addo for criticism, insisting that the Minority had remained consistent on the issue.
“NDC suggesting now by justifying deleting and inserting, there was something substantially materialistic wrong with what they wanted this country to have and they were still championing that that is the bill that have to be signed for Ghana, that is malice. If they say the old bill was good then, why now subject it to re-alignment and correction,” Rev Fordjour said.
“When it comes to pressure, they were the ones who were giving pressure even when President Mahama says that the bill was not with President Akufo-Addo. We didn’t put any pressure on President Mahama. All we are telling Ghanaians is that the bill that they have passed is not the bill that President Mahama promised to pass,” he added.
BY BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY
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