Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, has boldly stated that the John Mahama government has not changed its position on LGBTQI+.
He asserted that there was no vote on LGBTQI+ support for which Ghana abstained.
According to Ablakwa, the media reports suggesting that Ghana had compromised its stance by abstaining from a crucial vote on a homosexuality motion tabled at the United Nations are misleading and mischievous reports.
Ablakwa revealed that Ghana decided to abstain from a general vote about protecting human rights, particularly of women, violence against women and persons of various sexual orientations.
Speaking at a brief commissioning ceremony for Ghana’s new representative to UNESCO, Ablakwa stated, “The motion before the international organisation had nothing to do with a human rights question. Instead, it was a question of extending the tenure of some experts on the Human Rights Council.”
“The ministry wishes to state for the records that there was no vote on support for LGBTQ+ for which Ghana abstained. So let’s get it clear, there was no vote on support for LGBTQ+ for which Ghana abstained,” he said.
He explained, “Our ambassador in Geneva has clarified, he has sent a full report and has clarified that the vote was about independent experts’ mandate on violence against women, against people of various sexual orientations,” he noted.
“That is what the vote was about. A general vote about protecting human rights, particularly of women, violence against women and persons of various sexual orientations. And Ghana decided to abstain, consistent with our human rights credentials. Why will you want to endorse violence against women in particular?”
In a post on X, Ablakwa added, “The Mahama Administration has not changed its position on LGBTQI+.
This official statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarifies Ghana’s vote at the UN Human Rights Council yesterday.
Ignore the misleading and mischievous reports by sections of the media.
Meanwhile, Reverend Ntim Fordjour, a member of Parliament for Assin South, has stated the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will be shown the red card if President John Mahama fails to assent to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly referred to as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.
The lawmaker noted that the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill is a politically sensitive issue, and any president who jokes with this bill, even if they are not running again, jeopardises their fortunes.
According to Ntim Fordjour, the NDC would be making a grave political miscalculation if President Mahama fails to sign the bill into law.
Speaking in an interview with Kafui Dey in a video shared on YouTube, Reverend Ntim Fordjour stated, “If he doesn’t sign it, it will be the Ghanaian people who show him the red card and register their disagreement. Any president who jokes with this bill—even if you’re not running again—jeopardises the fortunes of your own party because it is such a politically sensitive issue.
The 6.3 million votes the NDC secured—93% of that support—could turn into anger if this bill is mishandled. That is what the 2021 CDD Afrobarometer survey reflects,” he said.
He added, “So if you’re a political figure and your personal ambitions are not your priority, think about the fortunes of your party and handle this bill wisely. If President Mahama does not sign the bill, the NDC will lose miserably in 2028.
Any credible political poll will likely support the CDD’s position in the 2021 Afrobarometer survey. LGBTQ+ issues play a significant role in shaping political behaviour—not just in Ghana but in many other countries. That is why any president who cares about their party’s future cannot afford to joke with this bill,” he noted.
See the post below:
The Mahama Administration’s stance on LGBTQI+ hasn’t changed… – Foreign Affairs Ministry clarifies#GHOneNews #EIBNetwork#GHOneTV #NewsAlert pic.twitter.com/j22HPUkxIw
— GHOne TV (@ghonetv) July 9, 2025
