The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has assured Ghanaians that President John Dramani Mahama is prepared to sign the LGBTQI+ bill once it is passed by Parliament.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Ibrahim explained the legislative process surrounding the bill and addressed recent misconceptions.
“When I became Minister for Religious Affairs, I went to the Speaker of Parliament. The President had stated that when the NDC comes to power, he would make the bill a government-sponsored bill. The Speaker also agreed. But because it was a private member’s bill, Parliament should follow due process and pass it before it is presented to the President,” he said.
Mr. Ibrahim added that claims suggesting the bill is not a priority are misleading.
“Some people say the President has rejected the bill or that it’s not a priority. That’s not true. The bill is currently before the Parliamentary, Constitutional, and Legal Committee, where both NDC and NPP MPs are represented. Once the committee completes its review, it will be passed to Parliament for approval, and the President will sign it,” he clarified.
He further explained that parliamentary recess has temporarily delayed proceedings.
“Parliament is currently on recess and will resume next month. The Speaker has confirmed that by the end of this year, the bill is expected to be passed. So anyone claiming otherwise is spreading misinformation,” Ibrahim stressed.
Disclosing President Mahama’s commitment, the Minister said, “Even when the stakes were high and the President was at the UN for campaign matters, he affirmed that he is ready to sign the bill once Parliament passes it. There is no reason to be scared or misled.”
The minister therefore urged Ghanaians to remain calm and patient.
“By the end of this year, this will no longer be an issue. The bill will be passed and assented. We must focus on the legislative process and trust that it will be completed as planned,” he added.
The comments come amid ongoing national debate over the controversial anti-LGBTQ legislation, which continues to divide opinion across political, religious, and civil society lines.
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