Sam George Slams Double Standards on Family Values Bill | Discuss Ghana

On Thursday, April 9, 2026, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, issued a blistering warning to President John Dramani Mahama and the Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, regarding their handling of the Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill.

Sam George, a primary sponsor of the bill, characterized the executive’s shifting stance as "hypocritical" and warned that he would not allow the legislation to be "sacrificed on the altar of international diplomacy".

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The "Hypocrisy" Allegation

The tension erupted after President Mahama suggested that the original 2021 bill was "effectively dead" due to the dissolution of the 8th Parliament and expressed a preference for education over criminalization:

The President's View: On March 27, 2026, Mahama stated that while he supports the principle of family values, he would prefer the legislation to be a government-led bill rather than a Private Member’s Bill, and urged global partners to "respect Ghana’s legal and cultural context".

Sam George’s Rebuttal: The MP dismissed these remarks as a delay tactic designed to appease Western donors. He argued that the President had previously pledged to sign the bill during the 2024 campaign and that questioning its status now is a betrayal of the religious and traditional leaders who supported him.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu’s Role: Sam George specifically targeted the Communications Minister for "playing a double game," accusing him of telling domestic audiences the bill is supported while assuring international media that "it is still undergoing process" to avoid diplomatic fallout.

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Current Status of the Bill (April 2026)

The bill has undergone a turbulent journey in the 9th Parliament:

Date	Milestone	Status
Jan 2025	Mahama Declaration	President calls the previous bill "effectively dead".
Feb 2026	Formal Reintroduction	Parliament formally receives the refiled bill.
March 2025	Private Member Status	10 MPs reintroduce it; Mahama asks for it to be a government bill instead.
April 2026	Current Standoff	Proponents (Sam George) demand immediate passage; Executive urges "national conversation".

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The Warning: "We Will Not Be Whipped Into Line"

Sam George reinforced his "non-conformist" stance, echoing sentiments that the youth and certain MPs care more about cultural results than party traditions:

Constitutional Review: He accused the government of trying to sneak "LGBTQ-related provisions" into the ongoing constitutional review process to bypass the bill—a claim denied by the Majority.

No Compromise: George warned that any attempt by the Jubilee House to "water down" the bill’s criminalization clauses (such as the 3-year prison term for identification) would lead to a "massive showdown" on the floor of Parliament.

“You cannot tell the Bishops one thing and the UN another. This bill belongs to the people of Ghana, not to any political party’s convenience.” — Sam Nartey George.