Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of abandoning the anti-LGBT legislation it vigorously championed while in opposition, questioning the party’s consistency and commitment to its stated principles.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, January 26, Mr Afenyo-Markin said the NDC has remained silent on the proposed law nearly a year after assuming office, despite previously leading a nationwide campaign for its passage.

According to him, the party had repeatedly argued while in opposition that Ghana required an anti-LGBT law to safeguard its cultural and religious values.

“In eight parliaments, they told the whole world that Ghana needed an anti-LGBT law,” he said. “They claimed it was to protect our culture and religious beliefs.”

He noted that the NDC openly canvassed support for the bill across the country, engaging the media, religious bodies, traditional leaders, and grassroots communities. However, Mr Afenyo-Markin said the party’s stance shifted after it won power.

“One year in office, and they have gone quiet on the anti-LGBT law,” he stated.

He also criticised President John Dramani Mahama’s remarks suggesting that broader consultations were underway to improve the bill, questioning why such concerns were absent when the party pushed for its passage in opposition.

“When they said the law should be passed, was it not good enough then?” he asked.

The Minority Leader further accused the NDC of frustrating legislative efforts when Minority MPs introduced a private member’s bill to advance the law.

“When we sought to pin them to their own principles, they suddenly relied on procedure, claiming there was no Speaker’s approval,” he alleged, adding that the party later attempted to shift blame onto the Clerk of Parliament.

Mr Afenyo-Markin accused the government of deliberately denying Ghanaians a law it once promised.

“They have refused, neglected, and deliberately denied the people of Ghana the very law they campaigned on,” he said.

He also raised concerns over what he described as the introduction of sexual rights content into the school curriculum, which government officials later attributed to an error.

“These were official documents—printed, circulated, and signed by a sector minister,” he said, crediting the Minority for exposing the issue.

He concluded by accusing the NDC of using the anti-LGBT law as a political tool to win power and vowed that the Minority would continue to press the government to act in line with its earlier commitments.