Anti-LGBTQ Bill: Don’t fall for Mahama’s rhetoric; he won’t sponsor any bill

Member of Parliament for Assin South and co-sponsor of the “Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2025,” Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, has cautioned Ghana’s clergy, urging them not to be swayed by President John Dramani Mahama‘s recent statements on the controversial anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

In a recent post on X, Rev. Ntim Fordjour accused the President of backtracking on his earlier promises to support the bill, predicting that President Mahama will not sponsor an anti-LGBTQ+ bill despite his public assurances.

“Eminent Clergy, please don’t fall for Mahama’s rhetoric. He WILL NOT sponsor any anti-LGBTQ bill – mark my words. If the President truly believes in the preservation of our cherished traditions, culture, and norms, he must not turn his back on the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025, reintroduced into the 9th Parliament as a private members’ bill. What has changed? The same President who promised to assent to the bill is now running away from the same bill,” the MP wrote.

The bill, reintroduced as a private members’ initiative in the current 9th Parliament earlier this year, seeks to criminalize same-sex relationships, advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, and related activities while reinforcing Ghanaian traditional values.

It follows the expiration of a similar bill passed in February 2024 under the previous Parliament, which lapsed when former President Nana Akufo-Addo declined to assent amid legal challenges and international pressure.

Rev. Ntim Fordjour’s criticism comes in response to President John Dramani Mahama‘s evolving stance since taking office on January 7, 2025.

While the President, during his time in opposition, emphasized his support for the bill, he has, since his election, made comments suggesting a preference for embedding cultural values in education rather than rushing into legislation.

According to Rev. Ntim Fordjour and others, this shift raises doubts about the President’s commitment to the bill’s passage.

During his 2024 campaign, then-candidate Mahama consistently opposed LGBTQ+ rights, citing his Assemblies of God faith and Ghanaian culture. In November 2024, he told the BBC he would scrutinize the bill’s content if elected, hinting at potential support but stopping short of a firm commitment.

As President, however, his emphasis has shifted toward a government-sponsored bill, distancing himself from the private members’ version reintroduced in 2025.

Meanwhile, Rev. Ntim Fordjour, a key advocate for the legislation, has been vocal about its necessity to safeguard Ghanaian identity. The 2025 bill, like its predecessor, has garnered significant support among lawmakers and religious leaders but faces opposition from human rights groups and some international partners concerned about its implications for individual freedoms and Ghana’s global standing on human rights.

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