Minority Caucus accuses President Mahama of downplaying anti-LGBTQ+ bill to British Prime Minister
via GhanaWeb2 min read
Ghana's Minority Caucus in Parliament has accused President John Dramani Mahama of downplaying the anti-LGBTQ+ bill during his recent visit to the United Kingdom. Speaking at Chatham House in London, President Mahama suggested the bill was “far from becoming law.” The Minority Caucus stated that President Mahama reportedly gave firm assurances to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street that the bill was far from being signed. The caucus described this assurance as “hypocritical,” citing Mahama’s earlier stance on the bill during his campaign. They noted that President Mahama’s remarks at Chatham House also suggested his administration was not in a hurry to see the bill enacted. The Minority Caucus expressed concern that such assurances, if accurate, would represent a significant departure from the urgency with which the NDC pursued the matter while in opposition. They questioned the NDC's consistency and commitment, arguing that the party is not prepared to stand by its previously campaigned position. The caucus maintained that the bill, in its original form, should be passed by the current Parliament and transmitted for presidential assent, aligning with the aspirations of the majority of Ghanaians.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
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Must ReadGhana's Minority Caucus in Parliament has accused the ruling National Democratic Congress NDC and President John Mahama of hypocrisy and deception regarding the anti-LGBTQ+ bill. This follows Parliament's passage of a revised version of the bill last week, which the Minority claims is weaker than the original 2024 version due to the withdrawal of about 30 clauses. The Minority is calling for the restoration of the original bill, accusing the NDC and its leaders, including President Mahama and Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, of overseeing contradictory bills on the same issue. They argue that the NDC, after campaigning vigorously against LGBTQ+ interests and portraying the NPP as supportive of them, has now fundamentally altered the bill upon assuming office. The Minority described the NDC's actions as "strange and hypocritical" for demanding presidential assent to the 2024 Bill while in opposition, only to rewrite it after taking office. They also criticized Speaker Alban Bagbin for presiding over an institution that passed two conflicting bills. Furthermore, the Minority highlighted internal contradictions within the NDC, citing President Mahama's public suggestion about a lack of quorum and the Majority Leader's disagreement with the Speaker's call for a fresh Consideration Stage. The Minority also slammed President Mahama for allegedly demonstrating a lack of commitment to sign the bill during his recent visit to the United Kingdom, where he reportedly gave assurances
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