Anti-Gay Bill: ‘Your words are mere fluff and flowery English’ — Sam George slams Akufo-Addo

Samuel Nartey George, MP for Ningo Prampram and lead proponent of the "Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2022", has slammed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on his direction to parliament not to send the bill for assent.

In a social media post on Tuesday, March 19, the vocal lawmaker asserted that the President’s move has revealed that he can not be trusted.

"Dear Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, this is not just shameful and disgraceful but speaks to the facts that when it comes to your words and promises, they are mere fluff and flowery English. Once again, you prove to the Ghanaian people that you are not to be trusted," Sam George wrote on X.

This comes after the presidency wrote to parliament instructing it not to transmit the anti-LGBTQI+ bill, citing pending litigation challenging the legislation before the Supreme Court.

In the March 18 letter, the president's secretary, Nana Asante Bediatuo directed that the bill should not be sent for assent "until the matters before the Supreme Court are resolved."

The controversial legislation, which criminalizes same-sex relations and promotes conversion therapy, was passed by parliament on February 28 despite global condemnation.

Its proponents insist it upholds "family values" while critics argue it infringes human rights.