The 3rd Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alhaji Masawudu Osman, has stated that the party expects President-elect John Dramani Mahama to sign the anti-gay bill into law after his inauguration.
In an interview on Puretvonline, Alhaji Osman accused Mahama of using the anti-gay bill as a campaign tool during the 2024 elections to gain political leverage.
He alleged that, Mahama accused the NPP’s flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and President Akufo-Addo of conspiring to legalize same-sex marriage in Ghana, a claim that reportedly bolstered the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Northern Region, particularly among Muslim communities.
“This deceitful strategy by the president-elect during the campaign helped the NDC win more votes in the Northern Region, especially within Muslim communities,” Osman remarked, dismissing the accusations against Bawumia and Akufo-Addo as baseless.
Osman expressed hope that Mahama would act swiftly to fulfill his campaign promise by signing the bill into law.
He criticized the NDC for employing what he described as dishonest tactics to secure electoral victory. “I expect Mahama to sign the bill immediately upon assuming office, but Ghanaians will not forgive the NDC for the lies they propagated,” he stated.
He further revealed that the NPP plans to advise President Akufo-Addo against signing the bill before leaving office, emphasizing that it is now Mahama’s responsibility to deliver on his promises.
“The NDC has no excuse not to pass the anti-gay bill into law, especially with their two-thirds majority in Parliament. We are waiting for them to act,” Osman declared.
When asked if the NPP’s position was intended to pressure the president-elect, Osman defended their stance.
“Mahama used falsehoods to win votes, so it’s only fair he fulfills his promises to Ghanaians,” he said.
Despite calls from various stakeholders for immediate action on the bill, Osman maintained that the NDC must take accountability, given their significant presence in Parliament.
The anti-gay bill, formerly known as the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, remains a divisive issue in Ghana’s political discourse. While it has received strong backing from citizens and religious groups, critics argue that it violates human rights principles.
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