The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has strongly criticised President John Dramani Mahama and his governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), accusing them of hypocrisy and double standards over their handling of the controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly referred to as the LGBTQ+ Bill.
Addressing a news conference at the NPP headquarters in Asylum Down, Accra, on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, reminded the NDC and President Mahama to fulfil their promise to reintroduce the last bill, which expired with the last Parliament, pass and assent to it.
He said the President and his governing party cannot suddenly abandon this solemn pledge to Ghanaians.
At a recent engagement with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at the Jubilee House in Accra, President Mahama claimed the bill is no longer a priority to his government, after promising Ghanaians about his strong commitment to it.
Rev. Fordjour described this u-turn as a “grand deception,” stating that the NDC used the bill as a political tool while in opposition but had since shifted its stance after assuming power in 2025.
Consequently, the main opposition party said the President must in the meantime, issue a formal apology to Ghanaians and religious institutions, citing what it described as a failure to fulfil a key campaign promise on the LGBTQ+-related legislation.
The President during the 2024 election campaign, the NPP recalled, assured religious leaders and key stakeholders that his administration would introduce a government-sponsored bill to comprehensively address LGBTQ issues in Ghana.
Rev. Fordjour argued that the delay or inaction on the pledge represents a breach of trust, particularly with faith-based organisations that engaged him ahead of the elections.
He stressed that the expectations of Ghanaians remain unchanged and that campaign promises must be honoured regardless of political transition.
“Ghana’s basic needs have not changed since 2024, and so the president must therefore be made to fulfil his promise to introduce a government-sponsored bill, which he promised the clergy to comprehensively address LGBTQ issues if made president.
“He willingly made those promises, and he must be held to account and be made to fulfil his promises.
“President Mahama must render an apology to the clergy, clerics and traditional leaders. He must apologise to the Christian Council, Bishops’ Conference, GPCC and all other religious leaders for the double standards demonstrated between the period in opposition and now in power,” Rev. Fordjour stated.
From advocacy to caution
According to Rev. Fordjour, the NDC was among the strongest proponents of the bill when it was introduced in 2021 as a private member’s bill, with several of its Members of Parliament co-sponsoring it.
He noted that during the 2024 electioneering campaign, Mr Mahama openly pledged to assent to the bill if elected, positioning himself as a firm defender of Ghanaian cultural and religious values.
However, he said the narrative changed shortly after the NDC assumed office. Rev. Fordjour cited engagements between the President and religious bodies, including the Catholic Bishops Conference and the Christian Council of Ghana, during which the President reportedly indicated a preference for a government-sponsored bill instead of the earlier private member’s bill.
He averred that this marked a shift from firm advocacy to what he described as “procedural caution,” driven by governance realities such as potential constitutional challenges and concerns about international funding.
Deprioritisation in government
The Assin South legislator further pointed to recent comments by President Mahama suggesting that the bill was no longer a priority for his administration, as it focused on addressing pressing socio-economic needs.
He questioned the consistency of that position, asking why such priorities were not emphasised during the campaign period when, he said, the issue was vigorously pursued.
“The same issue that was used to canvass for votes is now being relegated to the background,” he stated.
Contradictory Messaging
Rev. Fordjour also accused the President of adopting different positions on the matter depending on his audience, claiming that while he reassured local stakeholders of his support for the bill, his tone reportedly shifted during engagements with international partners.
He referenced commentary by civil society groups, including the African Human Rights Coalition, to support claims of inconsistency in the government’s posture.
Concerns over educational content
On education, the NPP raised concerns over what it described as the introduction of LGBTQ-related content into teaching materials.
The party alleged that certain definitions in a teacher’s manual approved by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) and implemented by the Ghana Education Service contradicted assurances that school curricula would reinforce traditional family values.
Although the government reportedly described the content as an anomaly, the NPP maintained that the development raised serious questions about policy direction and oversight.
NPP’s demands
The NPP called on President Mahama to realign his priorities with what it described as the expectations of the majority of Ghanaians, including introducing a government-backed version of the bill.
It also urged the NDC to apologise to religious leaders, traditional authorities and civil society groups for what it termed a reversal of position.
Additionally, the party appealed to Parliament, led by the Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, to expedite consideration of the bill upon its reintroduction.
Rev. Fordjour concluded by reaffirming the NPP’s commitment to upholding what he described as Ghana’s core cultural and moral values, pledging that the party would continue to hold the government accountable on the issue.
By Kingsley Asiedu
