BY Daniel Bampoe
President John Dramani Mahama has moved to quell growing criticism and political confusion surrounding the controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, by declaring unequivocally that he will sign the legislation once Parliament passes it.
The pledge, delivered during a meeting with the Christian Council of Ghana on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, marks a dramatic reaffirmation of the President’s stance after months of accusations that his administration was backpedaling on a major campaign promise.
President Mahama’s comments come at a time when both his government and the Majority side in Parliament are facing intense backlash for perceived inconsistencies and political hesitation over the bill.
Critics—including religious groups, conservative citizens, and the parliamentary Minority—have accused the President of drifting from the strong anti-LGBTQ+ position he championed during the 2024 election campaign.
But on Tuesday, Mahama sought to restore public confidence, stressing that his government remains aligned with Ghana’s traditional values.
“A person’s gender is determined at birth, and the family is the foundation of our nation. That is our position,” he told the Christian Council leadership. “If Parliament passes the bill and it comes to my desk, I will sign it. There is no equivocation.”
The anti-LGBTQ+ debate has dominated Ghanaian politics for nearly three years.
In the run-up to the 2024 elections, then-candidate Mahama positioned himself as the defender of Ghana’s cultural and religious values.
His support for the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill became a powerful campaign tool, especially as then-President Nana Akufo-Addo faced sustained criticism for withholding assent to the bill due to ongoing legal challenges and constitutional concerns.
Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) capitalised on the vacuum, promising to “swiftly give effect” to the bill if elected.
This promise resonated deeply among church groups, traditional authorities, and conservative voters—significantly boosting the campaign that eventually led to Mahama’s return to office in January 2025.
But soon after taking office, the President triggered confusion when he announced on January 14, 2025, that the bill had “expired with the previous Parliament,” adding that his administration would reintroduce it as a government-sponsored bill. Eleven months later, that promise remains unmet.
A Political Minefield
The political drama intensified in October 2025 when ten MPs—frustrated by government inaction—re-laid the bill in Parliament.
It appeared on the Order Paper on October 20. But by October 21, it had mysteriously disappeared without explanation.
The development infuriated several MPs, including Deputy Minority Chief Whip Habib Iddrisu, who called it “an unacceptable procedural anomaly” and accused the Majority of political cowardice.
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga added to the confusion when he announced that the bill did not need to be re-laid, claiming it had already been passed by the previous Parliament—directly contradicting the President’s earlier position.
The conflicting statements deepened public frustration and raised questions about whether the government was intentionally dragging its feet due to pressure from Western partners opposed to the bill.
Minority Accuses Government of “Political Deception”
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has been one of the loudest critics of the government’s handling of the bill.
He accused the NDC administration of “playing games with the emotions of Ghanaians” and abandoning a campaign promise for fear of diplomatic backlash.
“Before the 2024 elections, President Mahama and his party portrayed themselves as moral crusaders,” he said. “Now they are running away from their own words. This is deception.”
Afenyo-Markin insisted that Parliament must restore the bill to the Order Paper immediately, adding that the Minority would not allow it to “vanish conveniently.”
The Christian Council’s Influence
The Christian Council of Ghana—one of the most influential religious bodies in the country—has been at the forefront of advocacy for the bill’s passage.
Their visit to the President on Tuesday offered Mahama a critical platform to reclaim the moral high ground.
The President reassured them that his administration’s stance on gender, sexuality, and family aligns entirely with the Council’s teachings:
“I believe that we are completely aligned with the Christian Council in terms of your belief.”
This reaffirmation may be seen as an attempt by the President to ease tensions with religious groups that have expressed frustration over the perceived delays.
Parliament Holds The Key
President Mahama emphasised that the next phase is entirely in Parliament’s hands.
He backed the Speaker’s call to re-lay the bill to allow for fresh debate and possible amendments.
“We agree with the Speaker. Let Parliament debate it fully. And if they pass it and it reaches me, I will sign it.”
But with internal contradictions within the Majority and growing public impatience, the path to passing the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill remains fraught with political and diplomatic complexities.
