Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has criticised Parliament’s passage of the reintroduced Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, arguing that the legislation approved by the House is substantially different from the version previously passed in 2024.
According to the former Information Minister, approximately 31 clauses from the original bill were removed before the legislation was passed on Friday, May 29, 2026, rendering it significantly weaker than the bill that had earlier been championed by supporters.
In a post on social media platform X, Oppong Nkrumah accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of misleading Ghanaians by portraying the newly passed bill as identical to the previous version.
“Don’t be scammed. What the NDC has passed today is not the LGBT Bill that was before the House,” he wrote.
“The bill as passed in 2024 and as relaid before the House has now been mutilated by the NDC. About 31 of the old clauses have been deleted today. What has been passed now is an empty piece of legislation under the old name. It is not the same bill.”
He further alleged that the government was attempting to create the impression that the legislation remained unchanged despite the amendments.
“Yet they are going around telling people it’s the same old bill that they promised to sign. Such a lie. When we say this NDC government is a scam, it is a matter of fact,” he added.
Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, following its third reading on Friday after amendments were introduced to the earlier version that was passed during the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The bill’s second reading was taken on Thursday, May 28, before lawmakers completed the third reading the following day.
Declaring the bill passed, First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor, who presided over proceedings, stated: “Honourable Members, the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025 is duly read for the third time and passed.”
One of the key amendments relates to Clause Nine of the bill, which introduces exemptions for individuals and institutions providing professional services to persons who identify as LGBTQ+.
The revised clause exempts lawyers offering legal representation, journalists and media organisations reporting on LGBTQ+ issues in the course of their work, and healthcare professionals providing medical, surgical, psychological or counselling services.
Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh also contended that the exemptions significantly alter the character of the legislation.
“The point we are making here is that this is watering down the point that you wanted Akufo-Addo to sign for. Today, it is clear that you are exempting all these people under this bill, which is not the same bill you asked Akufo-Addo to sign,” he stated.
John Ntim Fordjour also opposed the exemptions, arguing that some of the groups covered by the revised clause play influential roles in supporting LGBTQ+ advocacy.
“If the House will use their majority numbers to push it through, I, as a sponsor, will advise myself accordingly,” he cautioned.
