NDC accused of hypocrisy over Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill passage
NDC criticised for supporting revised bill after opposing Akufo-Addo’s stance on earlier version
A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communications Team for the Chiana-Paga Constituency, Cletus Kaba, has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of hypocrisy in its handling of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.
According to Kaba, the NDC, while in opposition, strongly criticized former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for declining to assent to the earlier version of the bill, but is now backing a revised version that contains several exemptions.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Monday, June 1, Kaba said the current public discourse surrounding the bill centres on amendments made before its recent passage by Parliament. He argued that the changes address some of the legal and constitutional concerns that contributed to the previous bill not becoming law.
He stressed that the NPP is not opposed to either the bill or the exemptions introduced but believes Ghanaians should be made aware of the distinctions between the earlier and current versions of the legislation.
“We are not against the bill or the exemptions. We just want the public to know that the things that made it impossible for Akufo-Addo to assent to this bill have been taken out before it is now going to be presented to President Mahama,” he stated.
Kaba further argued that if the same version of the bill that was presented to former President Akufo-Addo had been submitted to President John Dramani Mahama today, he would have faced similar difficulties in assenting to it due to the legal and constitutional challenges that existed at the time.
He maintained that the debate should focus on the substantive changes made to the legislation rather than on partisan considerations, insisting that the public deserves a clear understanding of the reasons behind the revisions.
Mike 105.3FM I Navrongo | Elizabeth Apusaama
