Rev. Ntim Fordjour is the Assin South Member of Parliament
The Assin South Member of Parliament, Rev. Ntim Fordjour has expressed his disappointment over what he describes as a sudden shift in President John Dramani Mahama’s stance on the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
This comes on the back of the President stating that he will engage with the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, for a reintroduction of the Proper Family Values Bill as a government-sponsored bill rather than a private member’s motion.
The previous bill, which sought to criminalize LGBTQ+ activities and advocacy, expired with the dissolution of the last Parliament
Speaking on Starr Today with Tutuwaa Danso, the MP criticized the president for what he termed a scandalous and inconsistent position on the controversial Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.
Rev. Fordjour pointed out that while President Mahama previously expressed full support for the bill stating that if he were in office, he would have assented to it without hesitation he now appears reluctant to back the private member’s bill.
“What is new, alarming, scandalous, and most disappointing is that 93% of Ghanaians, according to the 2021 Afrobarometer survey, find LGBTQ+ issues repugnant, yet the president has changed his stance. The same bill, without a single change, has been reintroduced in Parliament, but now the president says he does not believe in a private member’s bill on the subject. This is scandalous and a major shift from his previous position”, Rev. Fordjour stated.
He further accused the president of failing to provide any concrete timeline for introducing a government-sponsored version of the bill, calling on him to uphold his principles and remain consistent in his stance.
“And he did so without any commitment of when he intends to introduce his so-called government-sponsored bill. We are urging Mr. President to keep through to your principle, be consistent”, he accused.
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