President Mahama indicates anti-LGBTQ+ bill faces procedural hurdles before becoming law
via GhanaWeb2 min read
President John Dramani Mahama has stated that Ghana's recently passed anti-LGBTQ+ bill is not close to becoming law due to procedural issues. Speaking at Chatham House, President Mahama revealed that questions have been raised regarding whether Parliament had the required quorum when the bill was passed, and other procedural lapses are also under scrutiny. He mentioned that the Speaker was preparing a statement to address these lapses. The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, was passed by Parliament for the second time on Friday, May 29, 2026. President Mahama clarified that as a private member's motion, the presidency was not involved in the parliamentary deliberations. He noted that the bill would undergo review by legal counsel at the Presidency and the Attorney General, and would also be referred to the Council of State. If significant issues are found, the bill could be returned to Parliament with specific concerns. The President emphasized that there is still a considerable process before the bill can become law. The reintroduced bill expands criminal sanctions related to same-sex conduct and includes potential three-year prison sentences for individuals identifying as LGBTQ+.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
President John Dramani Mahama has lauded Minister of Foreign Affairs and North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as one of his administration's top performers. Speaking during his Resetting Ghana Tour in the Volta Region on July 16, 2026, President Mahama described Ablakwa as among his hardest-working ministers, crediting him with many of Ghana鈥檚 diplomatic successes. He highlighted Ablakwa's commitment to national service and his focus on the development of the North Tongu constituency. The President attributed much of his international recognition to the Foreign Affairs Minister's efforts, citing Ghana鈥檚 successful campaign for a United Nations resolution on reparations as a prime example, noting Ablakwa personally led diplomatic engagements to secure international backing for the initiative.
Must ReadGhanaian TikToker Camilla Alhassan has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Accra Circuit Court after pleading guilty to charges of offensive conduct and publishing false news. The ruling was delivered on July 16, 2026, following her admission that she shared videos falsely alleging that President John Dramani Mahama buried 32 cows as part of rituals for the 2024 general election. Her lawyer, Kwadwo Gyamfi Bonsu, stated that the court dismissed the charge of electronic abuse due to lack of jurisdiction. However, she was found guilty of offensive conduct and publishing false news. The court imposed the one-year sentence, emphasizing the need for a deterrent given the increasing number of similar cases, despite the defense's plea for leniency. Camilla's arrest and prosecution followed the circulation of the videos on social media, and she was directed to undergo a pregnancy test before sentencing.
The Controller and Accountant-General鈥檚 Department CAGD has refuted social media claims that the government has spent nearly GH垄11 billion on the Accra-Kumasi Expressway project. The CAGD explained that the transfer of funds from the Consolidated Fund to Accra-Kumasi Expressway Limited, a Special Purpose Vehicle SPV established through the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund GIIF, represents a standard accounting procedure. This transfer is recorded as Grant Expenditure by the Central Government and as Grant Revenue by the receiving entity, which is classified as a State-Owned Enterprise SOE. The Department emphasized that the money, earmarked from the Annual Budget Funding Amount ABFA and mineral royalties, remains in a dedicated Bank of Ghana account and has not been used for construction or paid to contractors. The CAGD clarified that the ongoing right-of-way clearing by the Ghana Armed Forces is a separate, preparatory exercise not funded by these project-specific funds. The Department urged the public not to misinterpret the accounting entry as actual expenditure on construction, affirming that the process aligns with Ghana鈥檚 Public Financial Management framework and established government accounting standards.