Accra, Ghana — The Minority in Parliament has called for the reinstatement of the original Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, insisting that recent amendments have dangerously weakened its provisions and undermined its intended purpose.
At a press conference on Monday, June 1, the Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, who sponsored the Bill, said the changes had stripped it of its effectiveness and deterrent power. He described the revised legislation as a departure from the original intentions of lawmakers.
According to Fordjour, the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) had previously supported the Bill in its original form and publicly pledged to ensure its passage without major changes. He argued that the amendments now passed by Parliament contradict those commitments and amount to a breach of trust with the electorate.
“The amendments have stripped the Bill of its effectiveness and deterrent power. What we have today no longer reflects the original intentions of lawmakers,” Fordjour declared.
The Minority contends that the revised Bill lacks the stronger enforcement measures contained in the earlier version passed in 2024. They argue that the deletions, insertions, and redrafted sections have materially altered the legislation, leaving it unable to achieve its original objectives.
While reaffirming their support for the Bill in principle, the caucus stressed that their opposition is directed at the “dangerous dilutions” introduced during the amendment process. They are demanding that Parliament revert to the original version, which they believe carried the necessary force and deterrent effect.
Political analysts note that the controversy underscores the deep divisions over the Bill, with the Minority framing the NDC’s amendments as a betrayal of campaign promises and a weakening of legislative intent. The debate is expected to intensify as civil society groups and international observers weigh in on the implications of the changes.
