The Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has expressed doubts about the commitment of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the government to fast-track the passage of the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill currently before Parliament.
Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Newsnight on Tuesday, October 21, Mr. Assafuah said the bill is crucial to preserving Ghana’s cultural and traditional values and should have already been passed under a certificate of urgency if the government was truly committed.
Mr. Assafuah accused the NDC government of showing less enthusiasm toward the bill compared to the strong stance they took when in opposition.
“The fear is that we might not have the commitment of the governing party. You could clearly see that with the kind of commitment and arguments they made when they were in opposition, they could have passed this bill by way of a certificate of urgency. But they have not shown that commitment,” he noted.
“I do not see the commitment of the NDC government or even the majority side of Parliament to take this to a certificate of urgency. I do not see that.”
Despite the delay, the Old Tafo legislator maintained that the Minority Caucus remains resolute in ensuring that the bill is passed to reflect the moral and cultural aspirations of Ghanaians.
“Be that as it may, it is late — but better late than never. We are committed to making sure that this bill is passed. Irrespective of how slow the process may be, we will continue to press for the protection of Ghana’s traditional and cultural values,” he stated.
Mr. Assafuah added that the bill has already been advertised in the Order Paper, and Parliament is expected to begin deliberations on it later this week or early next week.
This comes after Parliament is set to reopen debate on the controversial Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill as a bipartisan coalition of 10 MPs, led by Sam George and Ntim Fordjour, moves to reintroduce it today, Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
The bill, formally known as the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021, seeks to criminalise LGBTQ+ activities, as well as their promotion, advocacy, and funding. It proposes up to three years in jail for individuals engaged in same-sex acts and up to 10 years for those who promote or finance such activities.
Supporters say the legislation will protect Ghana’s cultural and family values, while critics warn it undermines human rights and freedoms.