James Tamakloe, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) communications team in the Tema West Constituency, has criticized the National Democratic Congress (NDC), accusing the party of dishonesty and a lack of principle in the passage of the amended Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025.
According to him, dishonesty has become the hallmark of the NDC whenever it assumes office, arguing that the party often makes promises to Ghanaians but delivers the opposite.
Speaking on Nkosuo Nsem on Plan B FM with host Kofi Sekyi, Mr. Tamakloe expressed concerns about amendments made to Clause 9 of the bill, which deals with the promotion and advocacy of activities prohibited under the legislation.
Parliament on Friday, May 29, 2026, passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, marking the second time lawmakers have approved similar legislation. The bill seeks to impose a minimum prison sentence of three years and a maximum of five years for individuals who engage in or promote homosexual activities in Ghana.
The private member’s bill aims to provide for human sexual rights and family values while aligning Ghana’s legal framework with the country’s cultural, religious, and traditional beliefs. It also seeks to explicitly prohibit LGBTQ+ activities and criminalize advocacy, promotion, and funding related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning persons.
Mr. Tamakloe noted that while the legislation retains its core prohibitions and penalties, the version passed on May 29, 2026, contains exemptions that were not expressly stated in the bill unanimously approved by the 8th Parliament on February 28, 2024.
He further stated that the ongoing debate surrounding the legislation has exposed differences among its sponsors, particularly between the Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, and the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George.
According to him, some Members of Parliament have described the changes as a dilution of the original bill, while others argue that they merely clarify constitutional protections already guaranteed under Ghanaian law.
Mr. Tamakloe maintained that the amended bill is not stringent enough and does not impose sufficiently severe punishments on offenders, promoters, and facilitators of activities prohibited under the legislation.
The original bill passed by the 8th Parliament in February 2024 was forwarded to former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for assent but failed to become law before the expiration of the tenure of both the President and Parliament on January 6, 2025.
By: Bernard Mensah |Planbfmonline.com
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