Assin South Member of Parliament (MP), Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has criticised the Mahama-led government over Ghana’s abstention from the United Nations vote on LGBTQ+ rights.
According to him, the decision is in bad faith and a disappointment to Ghanaians.
The Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Committee made these remarks on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, stating that President John Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) cannot be trusted to uphold the values of the Ghanaian people.
“This abstinence creates the impression that there are some development partners who support the bill, so when you vote against it, they will withdraw support. It means we don’t have the boldness to represent the aspirations of our people,” he said.
He referenced the 2021 Afrobarometer survey, which indicated that 93% of Ghanaians do not support LGBTQ+ activities.
“The position of Ghanaians is that our values frown on LGBTQ+; so why can’t we be bold enough to vote an open no? The abstention is a complete shift from our position and values. Mahama, his Foreign Minister Okudzeto Ablakwa, and the UN Council rep voted on their own position and not the country’s,” he added.
The former Deputy Education Minister further warned that the government’s decision sends a dangerous signal and undermines the collective values upheld by religious institutions, traditional leaders, and ordinary citizens.
He questioned why Ghana could not vote “no” like several African and other countries, stating:
“China, DR Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Malawi, Sudan, Algeria, Qatar, and Burundi all voted no. In which of these countries have you heard that someone has been killed for engaging in LGBTQ+ activities?” he asked.
The United Nations Human Rights Council vote, held on Monday, July 7, 2025, during the council’s 59th session, sought to renew the mandate of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The outcome saw 29 member states vote in favour, 15 against, while Ghana was among three countries that abstained.
The renewed mandate reinforces a global call for governments to respect, protect, and fulfill their obligations under international human rights law for people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.
Ghana’s abstention comes amid renewed domestic efforts to criminalise LGBTQ+ activities. In May 2025, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin announced plans to reintroduce the controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from sections of the public, although the government is yet to officially comment.
Source: Gertrude Otchere
