Anti-LGBTQ Bill: Mahama citing procedural hurdles just to please Western partners – Kamal-Deen

Deputy National Communication Director of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alhaji Kamal-Deen Abdulai, has criticised President John Dramani Mahama's recent comments on the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, describing his explanation on the matter as “semantics” and politically motivated.

President John Dramani Mahama, during a question-and-answer session at Chatham House in the United Kingdom on June 1, stated that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, commonly referred to as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, still faces significant procedural and legal hurdles before any decision can be taken on its assent.

Speaking on Channel One TV's Breakfast Daily on Wednesday, June 3, Abdulai argued that Ghana's handling of the bill is influenced by economic dependence on Western countries, insisting that such dependence affects how national leaders communicate on sensitive policy issues, particularly when engaging international partners.

“Our President is in the UK and must speak well so that Western people will hear that he will speak well before he gets money. If not, if he doesn’t say there’s a long route to go, he won’t come home with money. That is the reason why the President could not speak well when he was in the UK, as he cited procedural challenges,” he added.

Abdulai insisted that Ghana should not allow external financial considerations to shape its domestic policy decisions, arguing that countries such as Senegal have passed similar laws with consequences, and questioned why Ghana should be hesitant in taking a firm stance.

He raised concerns over Ghana's continued reliance on foreign aid despite the country's rich natural resources, including gold, cocoa, bauxite, manganese, timber, bitumen, and oil. Such dependence, he lamented, undermines national dignity and policy independence.

-citinewsroom