OFFICIAL STATEMENT BY CHARLES OWUSU JUANAH, ESQ. ON LGBTQ+

National Chairman: FoB ‘08 // Renowned Private Legal Practitioner & Advocate for Constitutional Integrity and Public Accountability

The unfolding posture of the current administration on matters of national moral significance; particularly the LGBTQ+ question; raises serious concerns about consistency, leadership integrity, and respect for the collective conscience of the Ghanaian people.

It is both troubling and unacceptable that a government which, while in opposition, spoke forcefully and, at times, passionately on this very issue, now appears hesitant, evasive, and procedurally evasive when entrusted with the mandate to lead.

It is important to remind Ghanaians that while in opposition, a Private Member’s Bill on LGBTQ+ was championed by Sam Nartey George and strongly backed by members of the NDC caucus. At the time, leading voices within the party, including Sam Nartey George and Emmanuel Bedzrah, aggressively accused then President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of deliberately refusing to assent to the bill, going as far as suggesting that his stance was sympathetic to LGBTQ+ interests. These assertions were widely amplified to religious bodies and the Ghanaian public, effectively weaponizing faith and morality as political tools to secure support.

The narrative that was crafted and sold to the nation was not only misleading but deeply divisive; exploiting the sensitivities of religious communities and presenting a distorted image of the commitment of the then administration. This calculated politicization of a deeply moral and cultural issue now stands exposed in the face of the current government’s hesitation and lack of decisive action.

His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, in his recent remarks, has described the matter as “not a priority.” This position, while framed as administrative prudence, stands in stark and undeniable contradiction to the tone, urgency, and political weight he and his party attached to the same issue while in opposition.

A nation cannot be governed on the shifting sands of convenience. Leadership demands consistency, courage, and fidelity to principle; not selective amnesia when power is attained.

Even more concerning is the conspicuous silence of key government figures who once occupied the forefront of this national discourse. Individuals such as Sam Nartey George, who was notably vocal and uncompromising in his advocacy, must now answer a fundamental question:
Has conviction been subordinated to comfort?

Similarly, the quietude from other senior officials and communicators within the governing establishment signals not restraint, but a troubling retreat from previously declared positions. Governance must not become a sanctuary for political convenience where bold rhetoric in opposition gives way to strategic silence in power.

The Ghanaian people deserve clarity. They deserve leadership that is not only decisive but also principled. When a matter was presented to the public as urgent, existential, and foundational to our societal values, it cannot suddenly be relegated to the periphery under the guise of competing priorities.

No one disputes that governance involves balancing multiple national interests. However, what is at issue here is not prioritisation; it is credibility. It is the integrity of public office. It is the trust between leadership and the governed.

This government must be reminded that:
– Public positions taken in opposition are not campaign ornaments; they are commitments.
– Silence in power, where there was noise in opposition, is not neutrality; it is inconsistency.
– And inconsistency in matters of national importance erodes public confidence and weakens democratic accountability.

I therefore call on the government, led by President Mahama, to:
1. Provide a clear, unequivocal position on the matter.
2. Demonstrate leadership that aligns with previously stated convictions.
3. Restore public confidence by acting with transparency, consistency, and resolve.

Ghana’s democracy is strengthened not merely by elections, but by the integrity of those who govern.

History will not judge this administration by its words in opposition, but by its actions; or inaction; in power.

Charles Owusu Juanah, Esq.
Private Legal Practitioner

National Chairman : FoB ‘08 // Renowned Private Legal Practitioner & Advocate for Constitutional Integrity and Public Accountability