The Member of Parliament for Assin South and Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has sharply criticised President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), accusing them of misleading Ghanaians over their stance on criminalising LGBTQ practices.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem programme, Rev. Fordjour argued that during the 2021 election campaign, the NDC heavily emphasised support for the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, which seeks to criminalise LGBTQ practices and their promotion.
“After deceiving Ghanaians for their votes, today President Mahama and NDC shamelessly denounce the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, insisting LGBTQ bill is no longer their priority because the country is still grappling with basic needs,” he said.
He was reacting to President Mahama’s comments during a Presidential Dialogue with Civil Society Organisations at Jubilee House on Monday, March 30, where the President called for calm and measured dialogue on the LGBTQ+ issue. Mahama described the topic as sensitive and emotionally charged, urging all parties to approach the debate with restraint and respect for Ghanaian norms, while noting that it should not overshadow more pressing national concerns.
Rev. Ntim Fordjour questioned the apparent shift in position, asking why concerns about basic needs were not prioritised between 2021 and 2024, a period during which the NDC reportedly used the LGBTQ issue as a major campaign tool.
“Didn’t he promise to introduce government-sponsored bill to deal with LGBTQ? What changed? What a scam!” he further queried.
The Assin South MP argued that the change in stance reflects broader concerns among lawmakers and sections of the public who believe campaign commitments on the issue are being sidelined. He emphasised that the matter should not be treated merely as a political talking point but one requiring clarity and consistency from the government.
Rev. Ntim Fordjour has called on the authorities to clearly state their position, stressing that addressing pressing national challenges should not come at the expense of promises made to the electorate, particularly on sensitive social issues such as the proposed legislation.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill remains a highly divisive topic in Ghana, with strong opinions on both sides of the debate.
