Newly passed anti-LGBTQ Bill seeks to promote LGBTQ+ instead of stopping it – Rev Ntim Fordjour

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Rev Ntim Fordjour

Rev Ntim Fordjour, a Lead Sponsor of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill in Parliament, commonly known as the anti-LGBTQ Bill, has cast doubt on the new bill passed.

The Lead Sponsor of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill argued that the newly passed anti-gay bill seeks to promote LGBTQ+ instead of stopping it.

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Rev. Ntim Fordjour stated, “Clearly, if this government did not want to pass the bill, they should have stayed away from it. What we have is not any biting law; it is just for politics and optics”.

“If they have exempted those who are legally involved and others connected to it, then who are they targeting? So long as Section 9 is concerned, which could deal with homosexuality promotion, the bill becomes counterproductive,” he argued.

Also, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority caucus in parliament has fiercely resisted the changes following the passage of they described as a ‘watered-down’ Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill in Parliament, commonly known as the anti-LGBTQ Bill.

According to the NPP minority, the anti-LGBTQ Bill has been weakened through extensive amendments before its passage by Parliament last week.

The minority cited that the passed bill had 22 original provisions that had to be deleted, redrafted, and 31 insertions made before President Mahama would sign it.

Speaking at a media briefing in Parliament, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, the member of Parliament for Assin South, questioned why the NDC, which previously urged former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to assent to the bill, has now significantly altered it under President Mahama.

Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, addressing the press conference on Monday, June 1, stated, “22 original provisions of the bill had to be deleted, redrafted and 31 insertions made before President Mahama would have it, desire it, and sign it. Was that the promise? Was the promise to come and dilute the bill before he signs?

“President Mahama promised that he would sign the 2024 Bill. He didn’t promise to sign an amended, deleted, mutilated, and surgically bastardised Bill. He didn’t promise he would sign another version of that, and that is the reason why, even when he promised he was bringing his own version of the bill, til date he has not brought it.

Because he is perhaps waiting for the 2024 bill. So what is so difficult in parliament giving that old one to him?

“You all remember, the promise was clear: ‘Vote for me, and I will come and sign it, vote NPP out because they won’t sign it. NDC will come and sign it’. They did not say NDC will come and amend it. That is a scam, and that is a breach of trust. That is hypocrisy, and that is deception,” he said.

It will be recalled that Parliament on Friday, May 30, passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, with several amendments.

Under the new bill, a person who provides legal advice or legal representation to persons identified as LGBTQ+ is exempt from sanctions.

Also, Journalists and media organisations reporting on LGBTQ+ issues in the course of their professional duties are also protected.

It further exempted medical professionals, including those providing surgical, psychological and counselling services to LGBTQ+ persons, from punishment.

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