The minority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has slammed the NDC government for forcing LGBTQ down the throat of Akufo-Addo, but they are now running away from the bill.
According to Afenyo-Markin, there was no administrative error for parliament to halt the reintroduction of the Anti-LGBTQ Bill.
Speaking on the floor of parliament on October 22, 2025, the minority leader stated, “There was nothing administrative in error, I dare say it for the record, you forced LGBTQ on the throat of the Akufo-Addo government; today you don’t want LGBT, you will want it.
You use it to win elections, now that your stakeholders, the international community, are warning you, you want to run away run to where?
You now see governance; you are in the kitchen, you see the heat. I was there, we pleaded with you to let us manage this situation, but you said no. Remember that hot afternoon when you suffocated me with the third reading”.
He added, “Mr Speaker, when they were in opposition, they forced this bill on us, even when it was in court, they said the bill must be signed into law. We heard President Mahama, His Excellency he said the bill he has seen it but he is referring it to the Attorney General, that was January, then they will look at the very clauses the aspect of criminalising it, bringing a conviction, and sentencing where the person must suffer a jail term the very thing that you wanted he said we have to look at it and change it”.
However, Haruna Iddrisu, the Education Minister, has told the minority leader that shouting is not for leaders.
Also, speaking on the floor of parliament, Haruna Iddrisu stated, “Leader, you must have those who will do that for you.
I saw them a while ago talking about LGBTQ, Hon Habib, interesting times in Ghana, you were in Ghana parliament, passed the law, Nana Addo Dankwah was in breach of the constitution, you didn’t have a voice”.
He further added, “Read Article 106, 7, 8. He was in breach of the constitution. If parliament gives a bail to the president and he can assent or not assent, the constitution provides what he should do. Did you do that?
You allowed it to elapse, then today we are discussing the same matter. I heard the leader talk about how there was no administrative error, but there was a constitutional error. The constitution is elaborate, President Akufo-Addo can disagree with parliament, but if he disagrees convey it back to parliament that I disagree with you, and this is my reasoning. I will not do it for this reason.
We should pass it, I equally would have ended by saying Why didn’t you pass it, but it will be passed”, he highlighted.
Their comments came following Parliament, yesterday, October 22, 2025, halting 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.
Habib Iddrisu, a member of the Minority, stated, “Mr Speaker, we cannot have bills advertised on the Order Paper yesterday and today, the same bills are missing without anything being explained to anybody”.
Also, Ntim Fordjour accused the government of attempting to “run away” from the bill.
He stated, “Suddenly, this clearly indicates that there seems to be a clear attempt by the NDC government to run away from this bill,” he charged. “The bill that they thought was important yesterday must be important today. We are demanding that the human sexual rights and Family Values Bill be passed now.”
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: You forced this bill down the throat of Akufo-Addo, now you want to run away – Minority Leader.#JoyNews pic.twitter.com/hfcMuu3yVS
— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) October 22, 2025