Assin North Member of Parliament, Rev. Ntim Fordjour, has expressed disappointment over what he sees as a sudden shift in President John Mahama’s stance.
Speaking in an interview on Starr FM, Fordjour criticized Mahama for backtracking on his earlier support for the bill, which had been reintroduced in Parliament without any changes.
“What is new, alarming, scandalous, and most disappointing is that 93% of Ghanaians, according to the 2021 Afrobarometer survey, find LGBTQ+ issues repugnant, yet the president has changed his stance.
The same bill, without a single change, has been reintroduced in Parliament, but now the president says he does not believe in a private member’s bill on the subject. This is scandalous and a major shift from his previous position,” he stated.
His comments come after President Mahama, during a meeting with the clergy on February 28, indicated that his administration would rather push for a government-sponsored version of the Proper Family Values Bill instead of supporting the private member’s bill currently before Parliament.
While Mahama assured religious leaders that he would engage with Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin on the matter, critics like Fordjour see his approach as a delay tactic rather than a commitment to the legislation.
“And he did so without any commitment of when he intends to introduce his so-called government-sponsored bill. We are urging Mr. President, keep true to your principle, be consistent,” Fordjour added.
The Proper Family Values Bill, which aims to criminalize LGBTQ+ activities and advocacy, was originally introduced in the last Parliament but expired when the legislature was dissolved.
The post Mahama’s delay on anti-LGBTQ+ bill disappointing – Ntim Fordjour appeared first on MyNewsGh.
