Mahama and Akufo-Addo are highly intelligent and empathetic individuals - Sister Derby

Ghanaian singer and actress Deborah Vanessa, popularly known as Sister Derby, has raised eyebrows on social media after posting an unusual complimentary message about both President John Dramani Mahama and former President Nana Akufo-Addo.

In the post, she described the two leaders as intelligent, educated and empathetic individuals.

The post, shared on X on April 2, 2026, caught many of her followers off-guard given her reputation as a vocal and often sharp critic of government and political leadership.

"I've always known that both Mahama and Akufo-Addo are highly intelligent, well-educated and empathetic individuals, and that they will always prioritise issues which will promote national development and protect human rights for the benefit of Ghana," she wrote.

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The post has led to speculation online since it comes shortly after President Mahama indicated that the controversial Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill (anti-LGBTQ+ bill) is not a priority for his administration.

Others also cited former President Akufo-Addo's 'reluctance' to assent to the bill after it was first passed in 2024.

Some netizens, have however, indicated that perhaps Sister Derby was just being sarcastic.

The bill

The Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill is a Ghanaian legislation that seeks to criminalise LGBTQ+ identities, advocacy, and activities in Ghana.

Key provisions include criminalising the promotion of LGBTQ+ rights, imposing prison sentences of up to three years for identifying as LGBTQ+, and up to ten years for advocacy or promotion of LGBTQ+ activities.

The bill was introduced in Parliament in 2021 by a bipartisan group of MPs and passed by Ghana's Parliament in February 2024.

However, the then-president Nana Akufo-Addo did not assent to the bill before leaving office.

The bill was later brought back in 2025 and has been awaiting parliamentary approval.

President Mahama's recent statement that the bill is not a priority for his administration has been widely interpreted as a signal that he may not be in a hurry to sign it into law, which has drawn both relief from rights advocates and pushback from conservatives.

See the post below:

I’ve always known that both @JDMahama and @NAkufoAddo are highly intelligent, well educated and empathetic individuals, and that they will always prioritize issues which will promote national development and protect human rights for the benefit of Ghana. pic.twitter.com/AFH1v6NCN5

— Sister Deborah (@deborahvanessa7) April 2, 2026