Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of inconsistency in its handling of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
He argued that the party had criticised former President Nana Akufo-Addo over his refusal to sign the previous bill into law, but is about to present a watered-down version President John Mahama for assent.
According to him, if supporters of the bill genuinely believe in its objectives, they should have presented the same legislation to the current president for consideration.
“The same bill that was loudly defended under one administration should be sent to the current president if there is genuine commitment to it,” he said on the KeyPoints on May 30.
Mr. Bentil maintained that the reluctance to do so raises questions about the sincerity of political actors who previously championed the legislation.
He described the situation as evidence of political hypocrisy, suggesting that some politicians have adopted different positions depending on whether they are in government or opposition.
The policy analyst said the debate should move beyond partisan considerations and focus on whether the proposed legislation is practical, enforceable and capable of achieving its intended objectives without undermining fundamental legal principles.
He called for careful consideration of the bill’s provisions to ensure that any legislation enacted is clear, effective and not vulnerable to misuse.
“We should be careful about how we proceed with these matters because laws must be precise and capable of fair application,” he said.
By Christabel Success Treve
