The Member of Parliament for Assin South and former Deputy Minister of Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has accused President John Dramani Mahama of backtracking on his commitment to the controversial Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill popularly known as anti-gay bill.
Rev. Fordjour’s comments follow President Mahama’s recent proposal to introduce the contentious Anti-LGBTQ+ bill as a government-sponsored initiative rather than a private member’s bill.
The President argued during a meeting with the Catholic Bishops Conference in Accra on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, that government sponsorship would lend the bill broader legitimacy and improve its chances of successful passage.
However, in a Post on X on Friday, January 17, Rev. Fordjour expressed disappointment in President Mahama’s remarks, describing them as a betrayal of Ghanaians’ trust. He confirmed that the bill would be reintroduced in the 9th Parliament.
“Mr. President, don’t renege on your words to the Clergy and Ghanaians in respect of LGBTQ matters. Don’t run away from the bill you so believed in when you were in opposition,” he stated.
Rev. Fordjour accused President Mahama of inconsistency, recalling his earlier campaign promises:
“The same President @JDMahama who stated his desire to assent to the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill in opposition is now backtracking. Barely seven (7) days after being sworn in, President Mahama now thinks curriculum reforms should replace a bill that 73% of Ghanaians support.”
He further questioned Mahama’s apparent change of stance, asserting: “We heard him loud and clear during the Assin North by-election and when he campaigned to the Clergy about his intention to sign the bill without hesitation. Why is he now distancing himself after gaining power? Ghanaians are watching.”
Rev. Fordjour pledged that the bill would be presented to the President in its current form, saying:
“As for the bill, it will be served to President Mahama in the same shape and form—I can bet on that! Ghanaians are eager to see if he remains true to his words or seeks cover in ‘curriculum.’”
He also criticized President Mahama’s alternative suggestion of addressing moral and cultural issues through curriculum reforms, stating that such measures would not effectively counter the erosion of traditional family values.
Contrasting the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) stance with Mahama’s, Rev. Fordjour highlighted the party’s unwavering support for the bill. He referenced Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s promise to sign the legislation if he were elected president.
The Family Values Bill, which garnered significant attention in the 2024 elections, has already been reviewed by the Supreme Court, which ruled that it does not infringe on individual rights. Rev. Fordjour concluded by reiterating the importance of the bill in safeguarding Ghana’s cultural heritage and moral fabric.
