The Minister of Communication and Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has, together with several colleagues, re-introduced Ghana’s controversial anti-LGBTQ bill back in parliament as a private member’s bill.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday night, the minister said he is keeping his promise to the Ghanaian people and his chiefs.
“Four weeks and a few days ago, together with some of my colleagues, we reintroduced the bill as a private member’s bill,” he said. “I have kept my fidelity and my promise to the Ghanaian people to reintroduce the bill.”
He admitted that President Mahama had expressed a preference for the government itself to reintroduce the bill. But for him, that preference did not override his duty to his constituents.
“At my vetting, I was asked that question. My chiefs were sitting behind me, and I made the point clear,” he recalled.
“I have absolute respect and deference for President Mahama’s position. However, as a member of parliament, I owe fidelity as well to my chiefs and people.”
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He stressed that the responsibility they gave him was clear: to champion the bill for the protection of Ghanaian family values.
“That was the mandate they gave me. And I told them that when the ninth Parliament resumed, I was going to reintroduce the bill. And I have done so.”
He explained that while the government is legally empowered to take over the bill during its consideration, that hasn’t happened yet.
In the meantime, the bill is proceeding through Parliament via the private members’ route.
To those wondering why they haven’t heard anything yet, he had an answer.
“The committees of Parliament were only set up barely a week or two before Parliament’s dissolution. So it’s not like four years ago where we sent it straight to the Constitutional Legal Affairs Committee,” he said.
He explained that now, a new committee is responsible for private members’ bills. That change has slowed things down.
“The parliamentary process takes a certain number of steps,” he added.
He recounted how even though he submitted the first version of the bill in 2021, parliamentary action didn’t begin until late 2023.
“Yes, in 2021/22, there was a lot of conversation. But it was a media conversation. It was not a parliamentary movement.”
Now, with a super majority in the House, Sam Nartey George expects the bill to move faster.
“We have a super majority. I expect it to move faster through Parliament this time,” he said.
“Because again, what we have presented is what the eighth Parliament approved and passed. We have not changed a single word.”
That continuity, he believes, should limit the need for extended public debate. “We don’t need to reinvent the wheel,” he said.
With Parliament currently on recess, he is looking ahead to the return of legislative business.
“I’m hoping that when Parliament reconvenes, the new leadership of the Private Members Bill Committee will table this bill, work with expedition on it.”
Despite any delay, George was emphatic that the reintroduction has already happened—and that it is grounded in the same convictions that fueled the original effort.
“I have kept my fidelity and my promise,” he said again. “To the Ghanaian people. To my chiefs. To Parliament. And you have done same.”