Ghanaians wake up each day focused on jobs, salaries, not LGBTQ+ – Kwakye Ofosu

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Felix Kwakye Ofosu

Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Government Communications Minister, has said LGBTQ+ issues are not a priority for Ghanaians, who wake up each day focused on jobs, salaries and making ends meet. 

According to Kwakye Ofosu, the LGBTQ+ subject does not rank high among the priorities of ‘ordinary’ Ghanaian citizens.

Speaking on JoyNews “The Pulse” today, Kwakye Ofosu called the debate “a waste of time” and stated there is “nothing to apologise for” regarding the President’s position on the matter. 

Kwakye Ofosu stated, “This is not a major issue. It’s another waste of time. You know, NPP, they specialise in wasting the time of everybody”.

“When Ghanaians wake up in the morning, their focus is on how to get to work, how to earn a salary, and how to make ends meet. Is that bill the number one priority of every Ghanaian? It is not. It has no meaning,” he argued.

“The things that matter the most are the issues that affect the lives of Ghanaians,” he said.

“Which president, serving or seeking to become president, should make LGBTQ+ the most important issue? Is it not about the welfare of the ordinary people?” he questioned.

“There is nothing to apologise for,” he concluded.

His remarks come on the heels of 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.

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