Some Ghanaians have expressed their surprise at the loud silence of President Mahama and the likes of Sam George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram as well as Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor, the Member of Parliament for South Dayi and other key individuals who were on the necks of President Akufo-Addo to sign into law the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill passed by the Parliament of Ghana on 28 February 2024.
They are wondering why Sam George, the MP for Ningo-Prampram, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, and the section of the public that were in support of its passage are unable to bring the same pressure to bear on the John Mahama-led government, casting doubts about their real motives behind all the razzmatazz they engineered around the passage of the bill ahead of last year’s election.
In the light of the above, the Chairman of the Ambassadors for Christ Council in Techiman in the Bono East Region, Apostle Ameyaw Mark, is calling on President John Dramani Mahama to give utmost urgency to the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill as he did to betting tax, and the e-levy.
In an exclusive interview with rbnewshub.com in Nkoranza, Apostle Ameyaw Mark recalled President Mahama’s promise to prioritize the passage and its subsequent assent to the anti-LGBTQ bill if he is elected as president since LGBTQ+ is against the country’s culture and norms.
“President Mahama when in opposition criticized Akufo-Addo for not signing the bill, stating that if he was in power, he would have signed it a long time, so we are in acquaint on him to assent the bill”, Apostle Ameyaw stated.
Swift action required
Apostle Ameyaw urged president Mahama to take a swift action and support the bill to criminalize the LGBTQ+ activities in Ghana.
As the bill’s journey has marked by challenges and controversies, the Apostle’s stance pivoted on an act against God’s glance of human relationships.
“I am waiting for the president to sign the bill as soon as possible as he did to the betting Tax and e-levy, if not, I may consider it as he has an interest in the LGBTQ+ act”, he expressed.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, also referred to as anti-LGBT or anti-gay bill seeks to introduce a wide range of restrictions on LGBTQ rights.
The bill was approved by the Parliament of Ghana on 28th February 2024 with bipartisan support and would only have come into effect if signed into law by the then President, Nana Akufo-Addo at the time of the bill’s passage, since succeeded as President by John Dramani Mahama.
The bill lapsed with the dissolution of Ghana’s parliament prior to the 2024 Ghanaian general election.
In March 2025, a group of ten MPs reintroduced it as a private member’s bill, which must begin the parliamentary process again from the start; but President Mahama said that much as he supported the principle of the legislation, he would prefer it to be introduced as a government bill rather as a private member’s bill.
Story by Apiah-Kubi, Fabea FM, Nkoranza (Email: rbnewsh@gmail.com)
