The Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has defended former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s record regarding the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.
The MP argued that the former president was unfairly blamed for delays in its passage despite ongoing legal challenges.
Speaking at a Minority press conference in Accra on Monday, June 1, the lawmaker noted that President John Mahama had publicly acknowledged that the Bill, passed by Parliament in 2024, was never submitted to former President Akufo-Addo for assent because related court proceedings were still active.
Rev. Fordjour said this revelation undermines the public campaign against Akufo-Addo.
“If the Bill had not been submitted because the matter was in court, why was he made the face of delay?” he asked.
He contended that many Ghanaians were misled into believing Akufo-Addo was refusing to sign a completed Bill when, in fact, the legal process remained unresolved.
The Minority MP also stressed that the Bill’s return to Parliament with dozens of amendments reinforces his point.
In his view, the extensive revisions contradict claims that the legislation was final and required only presidential assent.
“If the same Bill passed in 2024 was truly the Bill Ghanaians were told must be signed immediately, why was it not simply reintroduced and passed in the same form?” he questioned.
Rev. Fordjour maintained that the debate ultimately hinges on fairness and public trust.
“The question is why Ghanaians were encouraged to believe that he was responsible for delaying a Bill that had not been submitted to him for assent,” he said.
He has, therefore, called on the government and supporters of the legislation to clarify the full circumstances surrounding the Bill’s journey.
