The National Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of misleading Ghanaians over its commitment to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Ahiagbah alleged that the NDC strongly supported the Bill between 2021 and 2024, presenting it as a matter of national identity, culture, and values.
According to him, religious leaders, traditional authorities, and many Ghanaians trusted the party’s position because it consistently backed the legislation while in opposition.
“Pastors, chiefs, imams, and every Ghanaian who prayed, marched, and raised their voice for the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, you were scammed by the NDC, the people you trusted with your votes on December 7, 2024,” he stated.
He further argued that all NDC Members of Parliament supported the Bill in February 2024 and called on former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to assent to it.
“From 2021 to 2024, the NDC stood in churches and mosques. They sat before the chiefs. They looked them in the eye and told them that the Bill was about Ghana’s soul, about who we are as a people, about the values we will not compromise on for anyone. Every single NDC Member of Parliament voted for it unanimously in February 2024 and demanded that President Akufo-Addo sign it immediately,” he said.
Mr. Ahiagbah contended that the NDC benefited politically from its support for the legislation.
“Ghanaians believed the NDC’s tough talk on the Bill because they saw the issue as cultural rather than political. As a result, the NDC won the 2024 election,” he added.
The NPP communicator, however, claimed that the current administration led by President John Dramani Mahama has weakened the Bill through several amendments.
“But instead of honouring their word, President Mahama and his NDC government have passed a revised version of the original Bill, quietly gutted by more than 30 amendments. The tough penalties? Gone. The strong protections? Weakened. The Bill that our faith and traditional communities fought for has been hollowed out by the same people who told us that it was sacred,” he asserted.
Expressing disappointment, Mr. Ahiagbah said the development amounts to a betrayal of public trust.
“This is painful. It makes me angry, and it should make you angry too, because President Mahama and the NDC have practically scammed us.”
He maintained that the governing party has contradicted its earlier position on the legislation.
“The NDC cannot have it both ways. They cannot tell us that the original Bill was sacred and must be signed immediately, then turn around and dismantle it once they are in power. That is not leadership. That is manipulation. That is deceitful and wrong.”
Calling on Ghanaians to support the opposition NPP, he added:
“We deserve better than this. Let’s not settle for the diminution of the promise to protect and defend our values. There is hope. Stand with the NPP and Dr. Bawumia for principled, inclusive leadership that preserves our values.”
He concluded by questioning the credibility of the NDC government’s commitments.
“One question for you to ponder: if the NDC could not keep their word on something this sacred, what exactly will they keep their word on?
“You cannot trust the NDC.”
His comments follow the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025 by Parliament with amendments exempting journalists, lawyers, and some medical professionals from sanctions under the law. The revised Bill is currently awaiting presidential assent.
Source: adomonline.com
