Member of Parliament for Assin South, John Ntim Fordjour, has challenged President John Dramani Mahama to demonstrate his commitment to proper family values by backing the private member’s bill seeking to criminalise LGBTQ+ activities, rather than introducing a separate government-sponsored bill.
His comments follow President Mahama’s recent disclosure that consultations are ongoing with the Speaker of Parliament to reintroduce the Proper Family Values Bill, aimed at prohibiting LGBTQ+ activities in Ghana.
Speaking in an interview on Channel One Newsroom on Friday, February 28, Ntim Fordjour emphasized that he, along with other MPs, has already reintroduced the bill to Parliament, where it awaits consideration.
The Assin South MP urged the president to support the existing private member’s bill, suggesting that any additional provisions could be incorporated afterward.
“If thereafter, the president thinks that there are other areas he finds extra legislation to address in addition to what has been provided for in the bill, then it is well in place,” he stated.
He further argued that Mahama’s plan to introduce a government-sponsored bill on the same issue undermines the significance of private member-sponsored bills, which are enshrined in Parliament’s standing orders.
“For him to discount a private member’s bill, he must be reminded that Parliament is an independent institution and that the executive cannot dictate to Parliament what it must do. Rather, Parliament will cooperate with you as a state if you sponsor your bill,” he asserted.