Kofi Bentil accuses NDC of double standards over anti-gay bill

Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of hypocrisy over its handling of Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ bill.

Speaking on TV3’s KeyPoints programme on May 30, Mr Bentil questioned why the party had criticised former President Nana Akufo-Addo for not signing an earlier version of the legislation but was now preparing to present a revised bill to President John Dramani Mahama.

He argued that supporters of the legislation should have maintained the same position if they genuinely believed in its objectives.

“The same bill that was loudly defended under one administration should be sent to the current president if there is a genuine commitment to it,” he said.

According to Mr Bentil, the decision to alter the legislation before forwarding it for presidential assent raises concerns about the motivations of those who had previously championed it.

He maintained that the development suggests some political actors have adopted different positions depending on whether they are in government or opposition.

Mr Bentil described the situation as an example of political inconsistency and urged stakeholders to focus on the substance of the legislation rather than partisan interests.

The policy analyst said discussions surrounding the bill should centre on whether its provisions are practical, enforceable and capable of achieving their intended purpose without undermining fundamental legal principles.

“We should be careful about how we proceed with these matters because laws must be precise and capable of fair application,” he stated.

His comments come less than 24 hours after Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, widely known as the anti-LGBTQ bill, following its third reading on Friday.

First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor presided over the sitting and approved the legislation after lawmakers voted in favour of it on the floor of the House.

The bill criminalises LGBTQ activities in Ghana but contains amendments exempting legal, media and health professionals who provide services to persons identified as LGBTQ.

The legislation was reintroduced in the Ninth Parliament after former President Nana Akufo-Addo declined to assent to a previous version passed by Parliament in 2024.

With Parliament’s approval secured, the bill is expected to be transmitted to President John Dramani Mahama for assent before it can become law.

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has indicated that President Mahama privately assured him he would sign the bill if it was passed by Parliament.

The legislation continues to generate intense public debate, with supporters arguing it protects Ghanaian cultural and family values, while critics, including human rights groups and civil society organisations, warn that it could undermine fundamental rights and freedoms if enacted.