Majority Chief Whip and South Dayi MP, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has revealed that a future presidency under John Dramani Mahama is prepared to immediately assent to the controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill (commonly known as the LGBTQ bill) once it is laid before him.
Speaking on Joy News on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, Dafeamekpor explained that the biggest obstacle to the bill in the past was not Parliament, but presidential assent.
“I am not the one who will sign… let me explain,” he said, recalling that the bill was driven through Parliament with “passion” by himself and Sam George and successfully passed.
According to him, the bill stalled only because the President at the time refused to assent to it.
“The President refused to assent to it. That was what killed that bill,” he stated.
Dafeamekpor argued that the fate of the bill raised serious constitutional questions, as Parliament had already completed its work, effectively turning it into an Act pending assent.
“So constitutionally speaking, what is the fate of a bill that was no longer a bill that had become an Act of Parliament, but pending assent?” he asked.
He noted that the matter ought to have been tested at the Supreme Court, since a bill, in his view, only dies with the life of a Parliament.
“But this one, it wasn’t a bill. It was an Act of Parliament,” he emphasized.
Dafeamekpor explained that the decision not to pursue the legal route was influenced by practical considerations, including the significant time, money, and resources required — especially after Parliament had already invested heavily in the legislative process.
The bill, which seeks to criminalize LGBTQ activities and promote traditional family values, has been a divisive issue in Ghanaian politics and society since its introduction. Its previous failure to receive assent led to widespread debate on human rights, cultural values and constitutional processes.
With the NDC now in power, Dafeamekpor’s comments suggest the bill could be revived and fast-tracked under a Mahama administration, potentially reigniting national discussions on the topic.
