Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, has quizzed the NPP minority on whether President John Mahama should apologise for saying that the youth of Ghana having jobs is a priority.
Speaking on the Pulse on JoyNews on Tuesday, 7 April, Mr Kwakye Ofosu rejected the demand, saying, “What is there to apologise for?” he questioned. “Are you telling me that what matters most to the public is the LGBTQ issue and not their welfare? Is that what the NPP is pushing?”
“So the President should go and apologise for making the welfare of Ghanaians his priority? Is that what they are calling you for? Where is the logic in this?” he asked.
He added, “Why do they waste their time in the manner that they do? Should the president apologise for saying that the youth of Ghana having jobs is a priority? He should apologise for saying that?”
“Indeed, if it were a priority for them (NPP), why did they not sign it when they were in power? When did it become a priority for them? Only when they left power?” he asked.
His remarks follow concerns raised by the Minority NPP MPs who have told President John Dramani Mahama to render an apology to the clergy, clerics and traditional leaders for his unfulfilled LGBTQ Bill promise.
John Ntim Fordjour, speaking on behalf of the NPP, highlighted that during the 2024 election campaign, Mahama, in opposition, assured religious leaders and key stakeholders that his administration would introduce a government-sponsored bill to broadly address LGBTQ issues in Ghana.
The MP highlighted that the expectation of Ghanaians remains unchanged, adding that the campaign promises must be honoured regardless.
Also, John Ntim Fordjour has told President John Dramani Mahama that Ghana’s basic needs have not changed since 2024.
According to John Ntim Fordjour, President Mahama must be held to account to fulfil his promise.
He further alleged that attempts are being made to introduce LGBTQ-related concepts into Ghana’s Constitution through the ongoing constitutional review process.
The Assin South MP highlighted that pages 107 and 108 of the Constitutional Review Committee’s report open the door for the recognition of LGBTQ concepts within Ghana’s constitution.
He alleged that such provisions, when adopted, could significantly affect Ghana’s moral and cultural values.
Speaking during a press conference at the NPP headquarters on Tuesday, April 7, Member of Parliament for Assin South, John Ntim Fordjour, stated, “Ghana’s basic needs have not changed since 2024, and so the president must therefore be made to fulfil his promise to introduce a government-sponsored bill, which he promised the clergy to comprehensively address LGBTQ issues if made president.
“He willingly made those promises, and he must be held to account and be made to fulfil his promises.
“President Mahama must render an apology to the clergy, clerics and traditional leaders. He must apologise to the Christian Council, Bishops’ Conference, GPCC and all other religious leaders for the double standards demonstrated between the period in opposition and now in power.”
The brouhaha follows President John Dramani Mahama’s statement that Ghana is still grappling with the provisions of basic needs of education, health care, jobs, food, clothing, and shelter, which is his government’s main focus and not the Anti-LGBTQ Bill.
According to John Mahama, the Anti-LGBTQ Bill, while important, is not Ghana’s most urgent concern at this time.
Speaking during a Presidential Dialogue with Civil Society Organisations at Jubilee House in Accra on Monday, March 30, Mahama stated, “We are still grappling with the provisions of basic needs of education, health care, jobs, food, clothing, and shelter”.
“While there are strong and differing views within our society, we believe that issues must be addressed through democratic processes, our core values, dialogue, and the rule of law,” he said.