NPP Minority 'exposes' NDC over '22 deleted and 31 inserted clauses' to anti-LGBTQ+ bill

Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over what they describe as major changes made to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill before its reintroduction for presidential assent.

Addressing the press in Parliament on Monday, June 1, 2026, the Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev John Ntim Fordjour, questioned why the version of the bill being considered in 2026 differs from what was passed in 2024.

Anti-LGBTQ Bill: Ghana prioritised family values over $3.8 billion financing - Clinton

He said there has been no change in the values of Ghanaians regarding LGBTQ+ issues since the earlier passage of the bill, questioning the rationale behind the revisions made to the legislation.

“On behalf of the Ghanaian people, and the question is, what changed? What has changed in our values from 2024 and what has changed now in 2026? Have Ghanaians changed their values on LGBT since 2024?” he asked.

He further argued that the expectations of Ghanaians had remained the same since the bill was first passed.

“If that has not changed, if nothing has changed in our value system, then the bill which Ghana passed, Ghanaians wanted, 93% of the population deemed as very important, should be the same bill that is important to the Ghanaian people today,” he said.

The Minority also recalled earlier discussions in 2024, where it was suggested that the bill only required presidential assent.

“In 2024, Ghanaians were told that the Human Social Rights and Family Values Bill required only presidential assent. That was all that Ghanaians said they needed,” he explained.

According to him, the NDC supported those earlier calls but has now taken a different position, accusing them of backtracking.

He added that the version of the bill now before President John Dramani Mahama is different from what was originally passed.

“Indeed, NDC were very forceful in joining those calls… In 2026, however, the same bill, when we placed it before them… the bill in that form was not presented to President Mahama, but had to be mutilated, had to go through major surgeries, had to be amended, had to be deleted,” he indicated.

He further alleged that significant portions of the bill were altered, questioning whether such changes were consistent with earlier promises made on the bill.

“Original provisions from the bill, 22, had to be deleted, redrafted, and 31 insertions made before President Mahama would have it and desire it to sign it.

“Was that the promise? Was the promise to come and amend, review, mutilate, alterate, dilute the bill before he signs?” he alleged.

Ntim Fordjour described the situation as misleading and inconsistent with the government’s position.

Ghana's Parliament passes anti-LGBTQ bill again

The lawmaker added that the revised version of the bill is materially different from what was passed in 2024.

“That is deception and that is hypocrisy. You can't subject a bill to 22 deletions and 31 insertions… and expect that the bill is the same. You have overhauled it,” he stated.

The Minority is therefore demanding clarity on what has informed the changes and why the bill was not presented in its original form for assent.

MAG/VPO

Meanwhile, watch as Ghana's Parliament passes anti-LGBTQ bill again: