In a strongly worded post on X on July 8, 2025, Rev. Ntim Fordjour expressed disappointment, accusing President Mahama of abandoning Ghana’s longstanding opposition to LGBTQ+ rights. “Ghana has abstained from a vote on LGBTQ at UN. President Mahama has completely shifted away from the country’s bold stance against LGBTQ,” he wrote. He called on faith-based organizations, the National House of Chiefs, and citizens to “rise up boldly to defend our cherished values.”
Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, the Member of Parliament for Assin South, has publicly criticized President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government following Ghana’s abstention from a United Nations Human Rights Council vote on July 7, 2025. The vote, held during the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council (#HRC59), renewed the mandate of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (A/HRC/59/L.2). The resolution passed with 29 member states voting in favour, 15 against, and Ghana among three countries that abstained.
The MP’s remarks come amid heightened domestic tensions surrounding Ghana proposed “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill,” commonly known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill. The legislation, which Rev. Ntim Fordjour co-sponsored, seeks to criminalize same-sex relationships, advocacy, and related activities. It was reintroduced in the 9th Parliament in 2025 after failing to receive presidential assent under former President Nana Akufo-Addo.
Rev. Ntim Fordjour also referenced a recent incident involving a South African same-sex couple photographed kissing beneath Ghana’s Independence Arch, which he described as a “desecration” of a national monument. “This absurd vote comes barely a week after same-sex couple were emboldened to kiss under the Independence Arch; desecrating our national monuments, without a pinch from President Mahama and his government,” he stated on X. The incident, part of the couple’s #ShowGhanaLove campaign, sparked widespread debate, with some Ghanaians condemning it as disrespectful to national values.
The MP’s criticism reflects broader concerns among some lawmakers and religious leaders who view Ghana’s abstention as a departure from the country’s conservative stance. In an interview with Adom FM’s ‘Dwaso Nsem’, Rev. Ntim Fordjour questioned why Ghana did not vote “no” alongside countries like China, DR Congo, Ethiopia, and Qatar, arguing that the abstention signals a lack of boldness in representing Ghanaian values. “This abstinence creates the impression that there are some development partners who support the bill, so when you vote against it, they will withdraw support,” he said.
Ghana’s abstention has drawn mixed reactions. Supporters of the decision argue it reflects a diplomatic effort to balance domestic sentiments with international relations, particularly with countries and organizations advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. Critics, including Rev. Ntim Fordjour, see it as a betrayal of cultural and moral principles, especially given President Mahama’s campaign promises to support the anti-LGBTQ+ bill. During the 2024 elections, Mahama cited his Assemblies of God faith and Ghanaian culture in opposing LGBTQ+ rights but has since suggested embedding cultural values in education rather than pursuing the private member’s bill.
The renewed UN mandate calls on member states to uphold human rights for people with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, a position that contrasts with Ghana’s pending legislation, which has faced condemnation from human rights groups and warnings from international partners about potential economic repercussions.
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