MP for Assin South John Ntim Fordjour, also a proponent of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill (Anti-LGBTQ Bill) said that President John Dramani Mahama should fulfil his promise to Ghanaians and get the anti-LGBTQI Bills passed.
He accused the president of adopting a double standard on LGBTQI issues.
“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 at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, April 7.
He added “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+.
The National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye (Nana B), also accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of weaponising LGBTQI issues against the then-governing NPP in the 2024 general elections.
He recalled that the NDC involved the clergy in the weaponisation of the LGBTQI issue, leading to the defeat of the NPP in those elections.
However, he said, after winning the elections, they have taken a different stance on the matter.
“NDC negatively weaponised the issue of LGBTQ+ in the runup to the 2024 elections; they roped in the clergy… in government today, we are seeing something different from what they promised,” he also said at the press conference.
Their comments come at a time when President John Dramani Mahama called for restraint and dialogue in the ongoing national debate on LGBTQ+ issues, stating that while the subject is important, it is not the country’s most pressing priority.
Speaking during a Presidential Dialogue with Civil Society Organisations at Jubilee House in Accra on Monday, March 30, the President described the issue as sensitive and emotionally charged, even in societies with long-standing liberal traditions. He urged stakeholders to approach discussions with calm and respect for Ghana’s values.
“I explained during my recent engagement with the World Affairs Council that it is not the most important issue we face as a nation.
“We are still grappling with the provisions of basic needs of education, health care, jobs, food, clothing, and shelter,” he stated.
The President said the government remains focused on addressing key socio-economic challenges, including improving access to essential services and creating employment opportunities.
He noted that the ongoing debate over a private member’s bill in Parliament reflects a broad range of views within Ghanaian society, adding that any outcome must be guided by the Constitution and respect for human rights.
“While there are strong and differing views within our society, we believe that issues must be addressed through democratic processes, our core values, dialogue, and the rule of law,” he said.
