Accra, Ghana — The Minority in Parliament has sharply criticised the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) for what it describes as extensive weakening of the newly passed Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill. The minority describes the newly passed bill as a very weak distant shadow of the one which was approved in 2024.
At a press conference in Parliament, Minority members accused the NDC of altering key provisions before securing passage last week. They claim the revised bill contains more than 20 deletions, 31 insertions, and several redrafted sections, making it materially different from the original draft that had been presented for presidential assent two years ago.
Rev John Ntim Fordjour, a co-sponsor of the bill, lamented that the deterrent effect of the legislation has been diluted. “All that was needed was presidential assent,” he said, recalling earlier calls by the NDC for the bill to be signed into law without changes. He argued that President John Dramani Mahama, who campaigned on a promise to assent to the bill, oversaw amendments that weakened its enforcement strength.
“It had to be amended, provisions had to be deleted and redrafted, and 31 insertions were made before assent,” Fordjour noted, questioning whether the changes aligned with commitments made to voters during the election campaign.
The Minority insists that while it supports the bill in principle, its concern lies in the erosion of its original objectives. “We are not against the bill or Parliament’s authority to legislate. Our concern is that it has lost its force, bite and deterrent effect,” Fordjour added.
The group is demanding an explanation from government, describing the process as a “breach of trust” and warning that the revised law lacks the enforcement strength envisioned in the earlier version.
Political analysts suggest the controversy could deepen partisan divisions, as the NPP-aligned Minority frames the NDC’s amendments as a betrayal of campaign promises and a weakening of legislative intent.
