The Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Bernard Bediako, has expressed confidence that President John Dramani Mahama will not hesitate to assent to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the Anti-LGBTQ Bill, once it is presented to him.
The lawmaker insisted that President Mahama would not “play games” with Ghanaians over the controversial legislation, despite the possibility of fresh legal challenges at the Supreme Court.
“He will not play games with the people of Ghana. Even if someone decides to go to court, I know that the very day President Mahama receives this, he would assent to this,” Mr. Bediako stated.
The comments come barely a day after Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, following intense debate and bipartisan backing in the House. The legislation criminalises LGBTQ activities, the promotion and sponsorship of LGBTQ causes, and introduces stricter punitive measures for offenders.
Mr. Bediako argued that the passage of the bill now presents a major leadership test for President Mahama, especially after former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo failed to sign the previous version into law before leaving office.
“For me, we’ve come far. What former President Akufo-Addo could not do, President Mahama is expected to do. He has assured us,” the Akwatia MP said.
The MP further explained that Parliament would now complete the final drafting and fine-tuning of the legislation before forwarding it to the President for assent.
