Anti-LGBTQ Bill: NDC Has Been Courageous, Says Majority Chief Whip
Majority Chief Whip Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor has mounted a vigorous defence of the National Democratic Congress government’s handling of the controversial anti-LGBTQ legislation, dismissing criticism from both opposition ranks and civil society as an “empty storm” that ignores the constitutional process underway.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express programme on Monday, Dafeamekpor pushed back forcefully against those who have questioned President John Mahama’s commitment to signing the bill into law. The controversy intensified after the President’s recent appearance at Chatham House in London, where he stated that Parliament still had work to complete on the legislation before it could be forwarded to him for assent.
Those remarks drew criticism from supporters of the bill who had expected Mahama to publicly reaffirm his intention to sign it. But Dafeamekpor argued the President’s position was entirely consistent with constitutional procedure.
“The quorum reference by the President was as a result of the empty storm that the minority are generating,” the Majority Chief Whip said, addressing claims that the bill’s passage through Parliament was marred by procedural irregularities, including questions about whether a proper quorum was present during the decisive vote.
Dafeamekpor was characteristically blunt in dismissing those allegations. “You don’t have that evidence, and you are blowing hot air,” he said, describing attempts to challenge the legislative process as “a journey to nowhere.” He maintained that no member of parliament contested the numbers on the floor during the bill’s consideration, making it impossible to revisit those proceedings retroactively.
The Majority Chief Whip also offered a technical explanation for the delay between the bill’s passage and its transmission to the President. He described a process of “post-passage scrutiny and drafting” in which amendments approved during parliamentary consideration must be properly arranged and incorporated into the final legislative text.
“The President’s reference to the fact that Parliament will still clean up the bill before it gets to him is in order,” Dafeamekpor stated, adding that the review should be completed within a matter of weeks given that the legislation is relatively brief.
On the central question of whether Mahama would ultimately sign the bill, Dafeamekpor expressed certainty drawn from direct engagement. “I have engaged the president privately on the matter. I have engaged him in a group. We have engaged him as a parliamentary leadership. We have engaged him as a caucus. We have engaged him as a party. He’s committed,” he said.
The bill, which criminalises same-sex relations and advocacy for LGBTQ rights in Ghana, has been one of the most divisive pieces of legislation in recent parliamentary history. It formed a key part of the NDC’s campaign platform, and Dafeamekpor framed its passage as evidence of the governing party’s resolve. The party’s Council of Elders has recently sought to maintain internal discipline, though the LGBTQ legislation remains a distinct matter from party management concerns.
“They are shocked, they are dazed that the NDC is actually courageous in passing this bill. They think that the bill will hang around our neck like an albatross,” he said, suggesting that critics had underestimated the party’s willingness to follow through on a politically sensitive commitment.
The Majority Chief Whip’s comments signal that the government views the legislation as a settled matter within its ranks, even as external debate continues. The expectation, as Dafeamekpor outlined it, is that the bill will reach the President’s desk within one to two weeks and be signed into law shortly thereafter.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
