Sam George Dismisses NPP Criticism of Anti-LGBTQ Bill as 'Purely Political' Point-Scoring
Samuel Nartey George, Ghana’s Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, has mounted a vigorous defence of the recently passed Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, dismissing opposition criticism of the legislation as a transparent exercise in political opportunism.
In an interview on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, the Ningo-Prampram MP directly addressed accusations from New Patriotic Party lawmakers that the bill has been weakened through amendments since its reintroduction in the Ninth Parliament. His response was blunt: the controversy has nothing to do with the bill’s substance and everything to do with shielding former President Nana Akufo-Addo from political fallout.
“There are things we play politics with, and there are things we don’t play politics with,” Mr George said. “It hurts me to say that Rev Ntim Fordjour and the many NPP members speaking on this matter are simply playing politics. It’s about trying to whitewash President Akufo-Addo’s refusal to sign the bill and trying to make excuses for him.”
The remarks came as Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill after its third reading, clearing the path for the legislation to be transmitted to President John Dramani Mahama for assent. The bill’s passage was met with relief by its sponsors, who had watched it stall under the previous administration despite overwhelming parliamentary support.
Mr George, who has been one of the legislation’s principal sponsors since its inception, insisted that the amendments made during this parliamentary term do not represent a retreat from the bill’s core objectives. Instead, he argued, the changes were introduced to provide greater legal clarity and to insulate the law from constitutional challenges once it comes into effect.
“After Parliament passes the bill and the President assents to it, the interpretation of that bill is no longer going to be left to Sam George or any Member of Parliament,” he explained. With that reality in mind, the sponsors opted to spell out exemptions in greater detail, including protections for the right to legal advice and legal representation, even for persons accused of offences under the proposed law.
The minister described the amendments as defensive measures designed to strengthen the bill’s standing under judicial scrutiny rather than concessions to external pressure. He maintained that the original legislation already subjected its provisions to the Constitution, and the revisions simply made that subordination more explicit.
The political dynamics surrounding the bill are complicated by the fact that it commands genuine cross-party support among the Ghanaian public, making it difficult for either major party to claim sole ownership of the legislation. The NPP’s criticism of the amendments has given the NDC an opening to question the opposition’s sincerity, while the minority party has sought to portray the changes as evidence that the governing party never truly intended to pass a robust version of the law.
With presidential assent now the only remaining step, the bill’s supporters are watching closely to see whether President Mahama will sign it into law without further delay. The stakes are high for both parties: for the NDC, signing the bill fulfils a major campaign commitment; for the NPP, the manner in which it is enacted will determine whether their criticisms of the process gain traction with the public or are dismissed as partisan manoeuvring.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
