The Member of Parliament for Manhyia South and Vice Chairperson of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, has questioned the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s commitment to passing the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, suggesting that earlier promises were largely motivated by political expediency.
In an exclusive interview on JoyNews Desk on May 25, Mr Baffour Awuah said the government’s current approach shows a clear lack of genuine will to advance the legislation.
According to him, the issue was used primarily as a political tool during the election period when public support for the bill was very high.
“The commitment of the government is absent. It was just politics; it was just meant to carry Ghanaians along because, if you recall, there had been an Afrobarometer survey that said over 90 per cent of Ghanaians wanted the Bill passed, and so it was enough political market for them,” he stated.
He argued that the overwhelming public support made the bill an attractive campaign message, but the current lack of progress indicates the government has moved away from those assurances.
“Because if you have over 90 per cent of Ghanaians that want the Bill passed, and you sing their song, they are likely to come to your side politically,” he added.
Mr Baffour Awuah further claimed that the promises made during the campaign were aimed at securing votes, but the government has failed to deliver on them.
“So in their desperation to win power, these are some of the things they stated, but clearly, just like many other issues on which they have disappointed Ghanaians, this is one of them,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has directed the House to expedite work on the reintroduced Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, urging lawmakers to fast-track its consideration.
Editor:
Obiri-Yeboah
