The opposition, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has accused President John Dramani Mahama and the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of “political deceit, hypocrisy, and double standards” over their handling of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Tuesday (7 April), Assin South MP Rev. John Ntim Fordjour said the NDC had used the controversial bill as a political tool while in opposition but had since retreated from its earlier stance after assuming power in 2025.
The MP traced the bill’s origins to 2021, when it was introduced as a private member’s bill with bipartisan support, including several NDC lawmakers such as Samuel Nartey George, Alhassan Suhuyini, and others.
He said the NDC at the time adopted an assertive posture, “engaging the streets, the media, religious leaders and traditional rulers,” and portraying the then-government as indecisive on Ghanaian moral values.
Strong rhetoric
During the 2024 election campaign, he added, Mr Mahama “explicitly pledged to sign the bill into law,” positioning himself as a firm defender of family values.
However, according to the NPP, the tone shifted after the NDC returned to power.
In early 2025, President Mahama indicated that the previous bill had expired with Parliament and suggested that any new legislation should be government-sponsored and subject to broader consultations.
He argued it “probably shouldn’t be a private member’s bill… [but] a government bill with government behind it after consultation with all stakeholders.”
Religious leaders’ concerns
Religious bodies, including the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, had consistently urged political leaders to expedite the bill’s passage, stressing the need to protect what they describe as Ghanaian family values.
Rev. Fordjour said the NPP believes those assurances have not been matched with action.
He cited a November 2025 engagement between President Mahama and the Christian Council of Ghana, where the president reaffirmed opposition to same-sex marriage, stating: “Marriage is between a man and a woman… the family is the foundation of our nation.”
“But behind the scenes, the urgency had already evaporated,” Rev. Fordjour said.
‘Not a priority’ comment
The NPP’s criticism intensified following President Mahama’s remarks on 31 March, in which he indicated that his government was focused on “basic needs,” suggesting that the bill was not a priority.
Rev. Fordjour questioned the shift, asking: “Were these basic needs not present between 2021 and 2024 when this issue was used to win votes?”
“To advocate so aggressively for a policy in opposition, only to dismiss it as a low priority once in government, is the height of hypocrisy,” he added.
Curriculum controversy resurfaces
The opposition also raised concerns about developments within Ghana’s education sector, alleging contradictions in the government’s approach.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) earlier acknowledged the presence of contested definitions in a Senior High School teacher’s manual, later describing it as an anomaly.
Rev. Fordjour argued that this undermined earlier assurances by the president that Ghanaian values would be reinforced through education.
“President Mahama promised to use the curriculum to protect our children… instead, his government used the curriculum to covertly lay the groundwork to indoctrinate them,” he said.
Claims of ‘strategic distancing’
The NPP said the NDC government has now adopted what it described as a “cautious, deprioritized and process-driven approach,” stopping short of rejecting the bill outright while avoiding decisive action.
Rev. Fordjour also cited commentary from advocacy groups, alleging that the president had presented “two faces” on the issue to domestic and international audiences.
Demands for apology
The NPP is calling on President Mahama to clearly state his position on the bill and whether he will assent to it if passed by Parliament.
“He must realign his priorities… and fulfill his promise of introducing a government-sponsored bill,” Rev. Fordjour said.
The party also urged the NDC to apologize to religious and traditional leaders, including the Catholic Bishops and other ecumenical bodies, for what it described as misleading them during the campaign period.
In addition, the NPP called on Parliament, led by Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Speaker Alban Bagbin, to ensure the swift passage of the reintroduced legislation.
Ongoing national debate
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill remains one of Ghana’s most contentious legislative proposals, drawing strong backing from religious organizations while raising concerns among rights groups and international partners.
The Mahama administration has yet to formally respond to the latest accusations, but the issue continues to dominate political discourse as pressure mounts from both domestic constituencies and global stakeholders.
