Rev John Ntim Fordjour is the Member of Parliament for Assin South
The Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev John Ntim Fordjour, has firmly dismissed claims that former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo deliberately refused to sign the controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
According to a myjoyonline.com report on October 22, 2025, Rev Ntim Fordjour clarified that legal challenges, not any presidential inaction, were solely responsible for preventing the bill from ever reaching the president’s desk for consideration.
“I have never said that anyone can blame President Nana Akufo-Addo for our loss. Neither did I say that President Akufo-Addo failed or refused to sign assent to the bill,” the MP stated.
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Rev Ntim Fordjour explained that the legal hurdles began early and persisted throughout the bill’s journey through Parliament, including during stakeholder engagements and amendment stages.
"When the hands of Parliament were stayed and enjoined from transmitting the bill, the President could not even have the privilege of receiving it to take a decision upon," he added.
He noted that after Parliament thought all initial legal issues had been resolved, a fresh lawsuit emerged, placing a crippling injunction on Parliament.
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This action effectively halted the constitutional process of forwarding the bill to the president for his assent.
Rev Ntim Fordjour maintained that it would be "unfair" to blame the former president for the delay, stressing that the process was stalled by legal manoeuvres that were beyond the control of the Executive.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, passed by Parliament in 2024, has been the subject of intense national debates, pitting supporters who demand swift assent against critics who raise constitutional and human rights concerns.
VPO/AE
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