
Richard Ahiagbah, Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has called on President John Dramani Mahama to honor his campaign promise by signing the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill into law.
In a social media post on Friday, January 17, 2025, Ahiagbah accused President Mahama of evading his commitment, stating, “H.E. John Mahama is running away from signing the LGBTQ+ Bill after promising to do so in its current form. Elections have consequences, and H.E. Mahama must not shift the goalpost. Sign the bill as you have pledged to Ghanaians…”
This follows President Mahama’s recent proposal during a meeting with the Catholic Bishops Conference in Accra on January 14, 2025, suggesting that the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill be introduced as a government-sponsored initiative rather than a private member’s bill.
He emphasized that such an approach would allow for broader consultations and foster national consensus.
President Mahama also highlighted the importance of revising school curricula to include moral and cultural teachings that uphold Ghanaian and African values among children.
The Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill aims to criminalize activities associated with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) advocacy.
Proponents argue that the legislation is necessary to protect Ghanaian cultural and family values, while critics, including human rights groups, contend that it violates fundamental human rights such as freedom of expression and association.