Damongo MP and former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has intensified calls for President John Dramani Mahama to assent to the original anti-LGBTQ bill passed by Parliament in 2024, arguing that recent amendments introduced by the current Parliament have significantly weakened the legislation.
Speaking amid renewed national debate over the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, Mr. Jinapor alleged that the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has departed from its earlier commitment to support the bill in the form originally approved by the 8th Parliament.
According to him, Parliament successfully passed the anti-LGBTQ bill in 2024, but the legislation could not receive presidential assent due to legal challenges pending before the Supreme Court.
He contends that the NDC had publicly indicated its readiness to support and sign the bill if elected to government.
However, Mr. Jinapor argues that following the reintroduction of the bill in 2025, the governing majority opted not to preserve the original text.
Instead, he says, Parliament approved as many as 31 amendments before passing the revised bill on May 29, 2026.
“The amendments have substantially altered the character of the bill and reduced its effectiveness,” he said, adding that “What has emerged is markedly different from the legislation passed in 2024.”
A central concern raised by the Damongo MP relates to changes made to provisions governing the promotion and advocacy of LGBTQ activities.
He argues that the amended version creates exemptions for a broad range of entities, including government institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), development partners, academic institutions, and other organisations involved in health-related programmes.
