Mahama Ayariga, the Majority Leader in Parliament, has revealed that President John Dramani Mahama is fully prepared to assent to the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
He revealed that President John Mahama told him he would not hesitate to sign an anti-LBGTQ+ bill if parliament passes the bill.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on October 28, 2025, during a debate on the anti-LGBTQ bill, which has been reintroduced in the House, the Majority leader stated, “I’m told that the bill was never transmitted to the Presidency. So, if the bill was not transmitted to the Presidency to be assented to after it had been passed by this House, Mr Speaker, it creates quite a legal issue”.
“… Let me give every assurance that we are ready to pass this bill as a House on this side. And let me also give you assurance that I have personally spoken with the president and he has no hesitation to sign if this Parliament should pass the bill, unlike his predecessor, who did everything to not give assent to this bill”.
Including threatening parliament, I am surprised that a sitting president has threatened the legislature, and nothing has been done about it”, he added.
Also, Speaker Bagbin, on the floor of Parliament, explained that the bill, which was first introduced during the Eighth Parliament, had to be reintroduced in the Ninth Parliament.
He detailed that parliamentary procedures do not allow for the automatic transfer of unpassed legislation between sessions.
Speaker Bagbin highlighted that the legislative process encountered some setbacks with the former president’s refusal to assent to the bill, and also debates over whether the current administration should adopt it as a government-sponsored bill.
However, the Speaker explained that both the Majority and Minority sides have shown strong bipartisan support.
He further indicated that President Mahama is willing to give assent once it is passed.
Alban Bagbin stated, “We understand the expectations and the passion surrounding this bill”.
“What we are doing is to ensure that when it is passed, it will stand the test of time and be implemented effectively.”
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.
Furthermore, conversations and discussions about the controversial anti-LBGTQ bill have resurfaced under the John Mahama government.
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Anti-LGBTQ bill: We are ready to pass this bill – Mahama Ayariga, Majority leader.#JoyNews pic.twitter.com/kBeyddecmE
— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) October 28, 2025