The Minority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has launched a sharp criticism against the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) over what he described as hypocrisy and inconsistency in its handling of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the anti-LGBTQ bill.
His comments came during a heated parliamentary debate on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, after Members of Parliament discovered that the controversial bill, which had appeared on Tuesday’s Order Paper, was missing from Wednesday’s version.
Background to the Controversy
The disappearance of the bill triggered confusion and confrontation on the floor of Parliament. Hon. Habib Iddrisu was among the first to raise the issue, questioning why the anti-LGBTQ bill and the Property Rights Bill had both been removed from the day’s business agenda without explanation.
In response, the First Deputy Speaker, Hon. Bernard Ahiafor, clarified that the removal was due to an “administrative correction”. He explained that Speaker Alban Bagbin had directed the Clerk of Parliament to take the bill out of the Order Paper until certain procedural requirements for private members’ bills were satisfied under Parliament’s revised standing orders.
However, this explanation did not sit well with members of the Minority (NPP), who accused the NDC Majority of deliberately stalling progress on the bill now that they were in power.
Afenyo-Markin’s Fiery Response
In a passionate and combative address, Hon. Afenyo-Markin, the MP for Effutu, rejected claims that the omission was merely administrative. He alleged that the Speaker’s directive reflected deeper political maneuvering by the NDC government, which he said was now reluctant to advance a bill it once aggressively promoted while in opposition.
According to Afenyo-Markin, the NDC cannot distance itself from the bill’s legacy, as it was the former Minority, led by NDC MPs, that pressured the previous Akufo-Addo administration and the then NPP Majority to push the bill forward—despite repeated warnings about the potential diplomatic and economic repercussions.
“There was no administrative error,” he declared. “The NDC forced this bill on the former NPP government when we cautioned that it would create serious challenges with development partners such as the World Bank and the IMF. They refused to listen.”
“You Will Want It, Paa” — The Heated Exchange
In his statement, Afenyo-Markin mocked the NDC Majority, saying they were now trapped by the same issue they weaponized for political gain.
“Today, you don’t want LGBT, you will want it,” he told them across the aisle.
“You used it to win elections. Now when your stakeholders — the international community — are warning you, you want to run away? Run away to where? You are in the kitchen; you will see the heat.”
He added that the NDC had positioned itself as the strongest champion of the bill during the 2024 election campaign, using it to gain political mileage. Now, however, as the ruling party, they are struggling to balance their populist promises with mounting international pressure and Ghana’s economic realities.
“Whether you want it or not, you will want the bill. You will pass it,” Afenyo-Markin concluded, drawing loud reactions from both sides of the House.
Broader Context
The renewed controversy over the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill comes amid Ghana’s ongoing political polarization and increasing scrutiny from international development partners, human rights organizations, and local civil society groups.
The bill, which was passed by the previous Parliament in February 2024 but never assented to by the President, seeks to criminalize same-sex relationships and advocacy for sexual and gender minorities. The reintroduced version has faced procedural hurdles and growing debate over its constitutionality and human rights implications.
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