"Prez. Mahama must apologize to Clergy, Muslim Leaders, Chiefs Over LGBTQ+ deception"— Rev'd. Ntim Fordjour

Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, Member of Parliament for Assin South Constituency, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to render an unqualified apology to religious leaders, traditional authorities, and the Ghanaian public over what he describes as a calculated “deception” regarding the controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.

Addressing a press conference at the headquarters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Asylum Down on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, the outspoken lawmaker accused President Mahama and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of exhibiting “double standards and political hypocrisy” in their handling of LGBTQI+ issues.

According to Rev. Fordjour, the NDC, while in opposition between 2021 and 2024, strongly backed the bill and leveraged it as a political tool to court support from the clergy, Muslim leaders, traditional rulers, and the wider Ghanaian electorate.

He noted that several NDC MPs were co-sponsors of the private member’s bill, which sought to criminalize LGBTQI+ activities and their promotion.

He argued that then-presidential candidate Mahama gave firm assurances during the 2024 election campaign that he would prioritize and assent to the bill if elected, positioning himself as a staunch defender of Ghanaian cultural and family values.

However, Rev. Fordjour said the narrative changed significantly after the NDC assumed power in 2025.

He pointed out that the President began adopting what he described as a “cautious and evasive posture,” suggesting the bill should be reintroduced as a government-sponsored legislation after broader stakeholder consultations.

The Assin South MP further alleged that the Mahama administration has since relegated the bill to the background, citing the President’s recent remarks that the legislation is no longer a priority compared to other pressing national needs.

“To aggressively campaign on a matter of such moral and cultural significance, only to downplay its urgency in government, is the height of political dishonesty,” he stated.

Rev. Fordjour also accused the government of engaging in what he termed a “dangerous double game,” claiming that while the President reassures local stakeholders of his opposition to LGBTQI+ practices, he adopts a more neutral and procedural tone in international engagements.

He further raised concerns about what he described as attempts to introduce LGBTQI+ concepts into the country’s educational curriculum.

He referenced a controversial definition of gender reportedly found in a Senior High School teacher’s manual, which he claimed contradicted the President’s earlier assurances to uphold Ghanaian family values through education.

Although authorities have since described the material as an error, Rev. Fordjour insisted that its approval and circulation point to deeper inconsistencies within the government’s approach.

He therefore called on President Mahama to “realign his priorities with the moral expectations of Ghanaians” and fulfill his earlier promise to support the passage of the bill.

The MP also urged the NDC to apologize to the Christian Council of Ghana, the Catholic Bishops Conference, the Office of the National Chief Imam, and traditional leaders for what he described as misleading them for political gain.

In addition, he appealed to Parliament’s leadership to expedite the consideration and passage of the reintroduced Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, stressing that Ghanaians expect decisive action on the matter.

Rev. Fordjour reaffirmed the NPP’s commitment to upholding what he called the country’s core cultural and religious values, vowing that the party would continue to hold the government accountable.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith