Accra, Ghana — The Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has called on the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to explain what he describes as a sudden change in its position on the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill (anti-LGBTQ+ bill).
Speaking after the Minority caucus demanded a return to the original version of the legislation passed in 2024, Ahiagbah questioned why the NDC, which had previously pledged to support the bill without major changes, now appears to have overseen amendments that critics say weakened its provisions.
“The NDC must clarify why its position has changed. They promised to assent to the bill in its original form, but what we see today is materially different,” Ahiagbah stated.
The Minority has argued that the revised bill contains more than 20 deletions, 31 insertions, and several redrafted sections, stripping it of its deterrent power. Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, MP for Assin South and co-sponsor of the bill, described the current version as “a pale shadow” of the original, insisting that its enforcement strength has been diluted.
Ahiagbah’s remarks add to mounting pressure on the NDC, with critics accusing the party of breaching campaign promises. During the 2024 elections, President John Dramani Mahama had pledged to assent to the bill once passed, but the final version was amended before approval.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has also ordered fresh scrutiny of the bill’s passage, citing procedural concerns and stressing that legislation of such national importance must rest on bipartisan consensus and strict adherence to constitutional procedures.
Meanwhile, President Mahama has indicated that the bill will undergo further legal and constitutional review before any decision on assent, including possible referral to the Council of State.
