Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of using the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill as a political tool to win the 2024 general elections, only to delay its passage after assuming office.
According to him, although the Bill enjoyed bipartisan support and was central to the NDC’s campaign messaging, it was not taken to a final vote in 2025, raising concerns about the government’s sincerity.
Speaking on Tuesday, February 3, ahead of the resumption of Parliament, Mr. Afenyo-Markin said, “The anti-LGBT bill, despite bipartisan party support and the NDC’s campaign stance, it was not brought to a final vote in 2025.”
He said the Majority’s explanation that it is ensuring proper handling of the Bill does not address growing public concern.
“The Majority claims that they are ensuring the bill is properly handled but this remains a potential flashpoint,” he stated.
Afenyo-Markin questioned the shift in the government’s posture on the Bill, suggesting it may now be responding to pressure from stakeholders within the governance ecosystem.
“We ask ourselves, they were okay with the bill and they pushed it, now they say consultation. To us, we think that they used it to win the elections and now that the stakeholders in the governance ecosystem are pushing at them, they’re finding a way of doing some go-slow,” he said.
The Minority Leader also raised concerns about Parliament’s recent legislative process, particularly the frequent use of urgency procedures.
“We’ve seen 33 bills that were fast-tracked under certificate of urgency, a procedure usually reserved for emergencies. We’ve not been happy about it,” he added, saying he expects assurances from the Majority Leader on the matter.
Parliament officially resumes sitting today, Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 12:00 noon.
