Ghana News
Mahama Cites Procedural Issues with Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, Suggesting Global Opposition May Have Succeeded in Killing Legislation
President John Dramani Mahama has signalled that Ghana’s controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill is far from becoming law, citing procedural lapses and constitutional hurdles that could delay, or potentially kill, the legislation.
The remarks suggest mounting international pressure may have achieved its purpose.
Speaking at a Chatham House interview in London on Monday, June 1, as part of his UK working visit, Mahama stopped well short of endorsing the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, which Parliament passed on May 29, 2026. Instead, he outlined a series of obstacles that must be cleared before he could even consider signing it.
“There’s still quite a while to go before that bill becomes law,” Mahama said.
The comments come just 24 hours after the president conspicuously deflected a direct question on the bill during a diaspora town hall in London—a silence that many interpreted as discomfort with the legislation. They also follow a bold prediction by Ghanaian transgender activist Angel Maxine, who declared with confidence that Mahama “will not sign this useless bill.”
Procedural Lapses and Constitutional Hurdles
Mahama revealed that two major issues have already emerged since Parliament passed the bill.
“One, that there wasn’t a quorum when it was passed. That’s an issue that has come up,” he said. “And then, two, there were some procedural lapses in terms of its passage.”
The president added that he had just received communication that the Speaker of Parliament was preparing a statement to address these lapses, an acknowledgment that the bill’s passage may not have followed proper legislative procedure.
A Lengthy Review Process Ahead
Even if those issues are resolved, Mahama made clear that the bill faces a rigorous multi-step review before he would consider signing it.
First, he said, the bill, which was a private member’s motion, not a government bill, must be scrutinized by the Presidency’s legal counsel and the Attorney General.
“If there are some things that he thinks are a problem, the President has another option. He can refer it to the Council of State for advice,” Mahama explained. “The Council of State is an advisory body to the President. They’ll take a look at it and then advise the President.”
If substantial issues are raised, Mahama noted, he could return the bill to Parliament “indicating exactly what the issues are.”
From Deflection to Delay: A Pattern Emerges
The president’s carefully worded remarks stand in stark contrast to the urgency with which Parliament passed the bill. Just days earlier, on May 29, First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor declared:
“Honourable members, the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025 is duly read for the third time and passed.”
But Mahama’s London comments suggest he is in no rush to act.
Asked directly at Chatham House for his response to the bill’s passage, the president did not defend its provisions or express support for its criminalisation of LGBTQ+ identity. Instead, he focused entirely on process—quorum, procedure, legal review, council advice.
For human rights observers, the subtext was clear.
International Pressure Appears to Be Biting
The global backlash to the bill has been swift and fierce. Human Rights Watch called it “cruel and draconian.” Amnesty International warned of “hatred, persecution, and discrimination.” UNAIDS said laws like this “kill” by driving vulnerable populations away from HIV services.
Western governments, though quieter in immediate statements, have signalled concerns that could affect aid, investment, and IMF programmes, leverage that Ghana, still recovering from a recent economic crisis, cannot afford to ignore.
Mahama’s Chatham House remarks suggest that pressure may have achieved its purpose. By pointing out procedural flaws and a lengthy review process, the president has effectively stalled the bill without having to publicly reject it, and without alienating the conservative base that supports it.
Angel Maxine: ‘The Reality Is That It Will Not Be Signed’
The activist community has seized on Mahama’s comments as vindication.
“President Mahama will not sign this useless bill into law,” Angel Maxine said in a video last week. “The politicians just passed the bill because they want to score some cheap political points. The reality is that it will not be signed into law.”
On Monday, that prediction looked less like wishful thinking and more like political foresight.
What the Bill Would Do—And Who Is Exempt
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill criminalises LGBTQ+ identification, advocacy, and funding of related activities, with penalties up to 10 years in prison. However, the final version passed by Parliament includes controversial exemptions for:
- Legal professionals providing advice or representation
- Journalists and media houses reporting on LGBTQ+ issues
- Medical, psychological, and counselling professionals serving LGBTQ+ individuals
The Minority Caucus opposed these exemptions, arguing they exposed flaws in the original bill. Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga defended them as necessary to “narrowly define exemptions” so that professional services are not misinterpreted as promoting LGBTQ+ activities.
A Pivotal Moment for Ghana and Its Allies
Mahama’s Chatham House interview did not explicitly state whether he will sign or reject the bill. But his emphasis on delay, procedure, and constitutional advice suggests a president who is in no hurry to enact a law that has isolated Ghana from key international partners.
For global observers who condemned the bill, the message is encouraging: the combination of diplomatic pressure, economic leverage, and procedural scrutiny may have succeeded where direct appeals alone could not.
For conservative supporters of the bill at home, the message is frustrating: a law they believed was days away from enactment now faces an uncertain future.
“There’s still quite a while to go,” Mahama said.
For the LGBTQI+ community in Ghana, those words offer a fragile but real hope.
In a decisive move to fulfill President John Dramani Mahama’s digital transformation agenda, the government has successfully pressured the nation’s leading telecommunications operators into slashing broadband prices and increasing data allocations, marking a major political and policy victory for the administration.
Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, announced the sweeping changes during the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, framing the outcome as a direct result of the government’s successful negotiation tactics and strong-arm leverage over the telecom sector.
The Minister revealed that MTN, facing the sharpest government intervention, increased its mobile data volumes by 15 per cent, while Telecel and AirtelTigo also bowed to pressure, increasing theirs by 10 per cent.
Most notably, MTN’s fibre broadband tariffs have been dramatically revised. The 100 Mbps unlimited package has been slashed from GH¢987 to GH¢299 per month, representing one of the largest residential broadband price reductions in recent years and a massive 70% drop in cost for consumers.
Presenting the reductions as a fulfillment of the Mahama administration’s core policy promises, Minister George emphasized that the interventions are part of a broader mission to force the private sector to align with the government’s public interest goals.
“These interventions form part of President Mahama’s digital transformation agenda to make internet access more affordable and expand opportunities for education, business and innovation,” Mr George stated.
He added that the government’s objective is to ensure that digital connectivity becomes a tool for inclusive economic growth rather than a luxury available to only a few, directly warning the telecom giants that the state will not tolerate the exclusion of ordinary Ghanaians from the digital economy.
The Minister assured Ghanaians that his Ministry will continue to exert regulatory and negotiating pressure to improve digital infrastructure, expand access to reliable, high-speed internet, and ensure that the government remains the ultimate arbiter of affordability for the citizenry.
Ghana News
Buckingham Palace Responds to Jamaica’s $10 Billion Reparations Demand, But the UK Government’s Wallet Remains Shut
A historic diplomatic maneuver that highlights the stark contrast between UK’s royal sympathy and governmental policy has been triggered by Jamaica’s official petition to King Charles III on Monday, September 7, 2026.
The petition formally requests that the UK’s highest court review the legality of the transatlantic slave trade and whether Britain has a legal obligation to pay reparations.
However, while Buckingham Palace has pledged its engagement with the process, the United Kingdom government immediately reiterated its firm position that its “wallet remains shut”.
Led by Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, the delegation filed the petition in London, marking the first time a Commonwealth country has utilized this specific legal route to advance the cause of reparatory justice.
The petition seeks an advisory opinion from the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC), Jamaica’s highest court of appeal based in London, on three pivotal questions: whether the enslavement of Africans in Jamaica was legal under English common law, whether it breached international law, and whether the UK is currently legally obligated to provide a remedy for the harm caused.
While initial reports suggested Jamaica was seeking a $10 billion settlement, Minister Grange clarified to journalists that no specific sum is attached to the petition; instead, it aims to establish a legal foundation for determining what, if anything, is owed.
The Royal Response
The response from Buckingham Palace was characterized by procedural engagement coupled with royal distance. Contrary to some initial headlines, King Charles III—who is currently in Scotland and was not present for the delivery—will not personally receive the petition.
A palace spokesperson clarified that the process requires the petition to be lodged directly with the Judicial Committee under Section 4 of the 1833 Act, rather than being handed to the King.
The spokesperson emphasized that the King has “on many occasions expressed his personal and wholehearted commitment to promoting greater understanding around the issue of slavery and finding ways to address historic wrongs for the benefit of communities today”.
The Palace also confirmed that the Jamaican representatives would be received by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for bilateral discussions.
The Government’s Hardline Stance
While the Palace signaled engagement, the response from the British government was unequivocal and immediate. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Downing Street office stated, “The UK does not and will not pay reparations”.
The spokesperson added, “The transatlantic slave trade was abhorrent and of course it’s right that we acknowledge the wrongs of the past, but we’ll continue to face forward and work with other countries on our current shared challenges”.
This stance remains unchanged despite recent acknowledgements that the UK significantly benefitted from the trade, and the fact that British institutions, such as the Church of England, have previously pledged funds to address their historical links.
A Historical Irony
The refusal comes against a backdrop of historical precedent that critics and advocates often highlight. In 1833, the British government agreed to a compensation package of £20 million (worth approximately $2.6 billion today) to be paid to British slave owners for the “loss of their property” after the abolition of slavery legislation.
“Encouraged” but Firm
Despite the government’s refusal to entertain financial compensation, Minister Grange expressed optimism about the engagement from Buckingham Palace.
“We’re not pre-empting the process, but we are encouraged,” she told Reuters, noting the Palace’s role in ensuring the petition was properly lodged through the Governor-General.
The move is seen as a significant escalation in the wider Caribbean reparations campaign. By seeking a legal opinion, Jamaica aims to bypass the political impasse that has blocked progress at Commonwealth summits.
If the JCPC rules in Jamaica’s favor, it could provide a powerful legal platform not only for Jamaica but for other former British colonies in the Caribbean demanding reparations, potentially paving the way for litigation in British courts.
Here are the top headline stories pulled from the front pages of the provided Ghanaian newspapers.
The Dispatch
- Main: GHANA MUST KEEP TWO TERM PREZ LIMITS – ASIEDU NKETIA
- Secondary: IGP YOHUNO PROMOTES SEVEN POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARRESTED SUSPECTS IN CONNECTION WITH MURDER
- Also: MY JOURNEY FROM RUNNING MATE TO FORMER VEEP IS BY GOD’S DIVINE WILL – DR. BAWUMIA; BLACK STARS COACH QUEIROS TO STAY; REV. STEPHEN WENGAM LAUNCHES THE 10TH TRIENNIAL CONGRESS…
The Hawk Newspaper
- Main: MAHAMA DUMPS ASHIE MOORE (Over ‘Incompetence’ At Sankofa Gold)
- Secondary: FORMER CDS OFFERS BOOZ AND CASH TO KILL STORY; MAHAMA, OPEN YOUR EYES! – Obiri Boahen’s Chilling Warning: NPP ‘Mulling Evil’; SILENT THEN. OUTRAGED NOW – Anin-Yeboah’s Praise Exposes Critics’ Double Standards
The Overseer
- Main: MAHAMA SACKS NDC ‘SERIAL TROUBLEMAKER’ ASHIE-MOORE FROM SANKOFA GOLD
- Secondary: Free Primary Healthcare To Reach All 216 Districts By 2027 – Akandoh; Mahama Has Mobilized $1.7bn For Accra-Kumasi Expressway – Tamakloe; Ato Forson Thanks Constituents For 18 Years Of Support
The New Trust
- Main: Over 300k candidates chose category A schools despite 76,417 vacancies – Education Ministry
- Secondary: Ashanti NPP Women’s Wing cautions “Prophet” Owusu Bempah over attacks on Ayew Afriyie & Bawumia; Govt spent GH¢49.7m on 1,964 Ghanaians evacuated from SA – Ablakwa reveals; COKA swears in appointed deputy regional executives & others…urges them to work hard in unity
The National Enquirer
- Main: DON’T PAY ANYONE FOR SHS PLACEMENT – Dr. Apaak warns parents
- Secondary: National Security Nabs Notorious Illicit Drugs Pusher; TOR Seeks Strategic Int’l Partners; Minerals Commission Pushes Deeper Ghana-UK Mining Cooperation; NPA Gears Up – Takes petroleum safety campaign to Fetu Afahye in Cape Coast
The Spyder
- Main: Ayariga’s Cathedral Slip-Up: Chieftaincy Minister Tenure Starts on Wrong Footing
- Secondary: Controversial ‘Witches Conference’ Set for Accra; Former Army Boss’ Cash-And-Booze Trap Fails – Oppong-Peprah’s Journalist Trap Lands Him in Trouble; Do the Math: Students are Getting Smarter in Numbers, Dumber in Words – WAEC
Daily Graphic
- Main: Free Primary Healthcare goes live (Over 4,500 facilities ready • 135 Districts implement policy)
- Secondary: 53,000 Grade 9 BECE graduates given lifeline – They can do self-placement; Amansie Community Bank mobilises GH¢1bn deposits – Highest in Ashanti Region for 2025
Economy Times
- Main: BoG develops regulatory framework for cedi-backed stablecoins
- Secondary: Ghana’s 4-Year Bond issuance settles at 12% – …govt accepts bids of GH¢3.15 billion; Cedi turnaround delivers GH¢23.7bn FX upswing for SOEs
Day Break (Dated September 2, 2026)
- Main: Mahama Sued – …Over Council of State Vacancy
- Secondary: 1 In 4 Fibre Cuts By Galamsey – …Sam George Reveals; Be Like Zijin! – …Armah Buah Charges Ghanaian Mining Companies; Galamsey To Worsen – …Without Right Intelligence Architecture
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