Government has the numbers in Parliament to pass the bill swiftly – Enoch Afoakwah

By: Ashiadey Dotse 

A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) legal team, Enoch Afoakwah, says the government has the numbers in Parliament to pass the Human Sexuality and Family Values Bill swiftly if it chooses to prioritise it.

Speaking in an interview on GTV’s Current Agenda programme on Saturday April 11, 2026, Afoakwah argued that the ruling administration, led by President John Dramani Mahama, has enough parliamentary strength to ensure the bill is passed within a short period.

According to him, the delay in passing the controversial anti-LGBTQ bill is not due to a lack of capacity but rather a question of political will.

He noted that the government has demonstrated its ability to push legislation through Parliament quickly whiles in opposition, citing the passage of the Gold Board Act within 90 days as an example of how urgent bills can be handled.

“If government could pass a comprehensive law like the Gold Board Act in such a short time, then a relatively shorter bill like the Family Values Bill should not take long,” he said.

Afoakwah criticised what he described as a shift in the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s position on the bill, noting that the party had strongly supported it while in opposition but appears less committed now in government.

He further stated that the issue remains important to many Ghanaians, particularly religious groups, and should be treated as a national priority.

The legal practitioner also questioned why the bill has not been reintroduced and passed despite the government’s majority in Parliament, insisting that with the needed backing, it could be approved in less than a week.

He added that President Mahama had previously indicated his willingness to assent to the bill but explained that the earlier version lapsed due to legal and procedural challenges.

Afoakwah therefore urged the government to take ownership of the bill, reintroduce it to Parliament, and ensure its swift passage, stressing that the matter touches on Ghana’s cultural and moral values.

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