Dr Joshua Zaato, a political scientist at the University of Ghana, has said former President Nana Akufo-Addo’s failure to assent to the anti-LGBTQ+ bill contributed to the NPP’s massive defeat.
According to the University of Ghana lecturer, Akufo-Addo was wrong not to assent to the controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.
He emphasised that Akufo-Addo had no business withholding his signature from a bill passed by parliament.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show, Dr Zaato stated, “What’s wrong when he did not signing this into power? Akufo-Addo was wrong. And this — by not signing this thing — also contributed to the massive loss of the NPP in the last elections”.
“There are two things: you identify that there are constitutional challenges, you do your part, and you stand in it. If I were the President, I would have held a huge grand affair at the South Wing of the Jubilee House,” Dr Zaato remarked.
Also, Rev Ntim Fordjour, one of the lead sponsors of the reintroduced Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill (Anti-LBGTQ+ Bill), has attributed the New Patriotic Party (NPP) defeat in the 2024 election to former President Akufo-Addo’s failure to sign the bill.
According to Rev Ntim Fordjour, the 2024 elections might have been different if legal and procedural obstacles had not prevented Akufo-Addo from assenting to the anti-LBGTQ+ legislation.
Speaking to Citi News, Rev Ntim Fordjour stated, “If [former] President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had been able to sign this bill, it would have served this nation a lot better, and it would have even enhanced the image of my party. And I dare say that the outcome of the election in 2024 would have been different.
“It would have been different; the outcome would have been different. I have said it way before we voted, after we voted, before handing over, and so my position has been consistent and my position has not changed,” he stated.
The Anti-LBGTQ bill under the former Akufo-Addo government faced several lawsuits filed against the bill, leading to a delay in its signing.
Eventually, the bill, which became a burden for the previous government, remained just a bill and was not passed into law before Akufo-Addo left power.
The bill sought to criminalise Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBTQ+) activities in Ghana, was passed by the 8th Parliament, but remained unsigned before the 8th Parliament was dissolved.
Meanwhile, conversations and discussions about the controversial anti-LBGTQ bill have resurfaced under the John Mahama government.
Also, Parliament, yesterday, October 22, 2025, halted the reintroduction of the anti-gay bill to the house.
According to reports, parliament halted the reintroduction of the anti-gay bill as it disappeared a day after being advertised on the order paper.
The sudden disappearance of the controversial anti-LBGTQ+ bill sparked strong reactions from members of the Minority.
The minority demanded immediate answers from the government and parliamentary leadership.
Mahama Ayariga, the majority leader, had earlier explained there was no need to re-lay the bill since it had already been passed by the previous Parliament and forwarded to the Presidency for assent.