The debate over Ghana’s Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, described popularly as Ghana’s ‘Anti-LGBT Bill’, has reached a critical juncture. For years, concerns about international pressure, particularly from powerful nations like the United States, have stalled the Bill’s progress.

However, a significant shift in global dynamics, driven by former and newly inaugurated U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies affirming biological sexes and curbing diversity programs, has brought the perfect opportunity for Ghana to move forward confidently.

During Donald Trump’s first four-year administration, the U.S. set a precedent by affirming a traditional stance on gender identity. With regards to this, the US president issued executive orders unequivocally affirming that there are only male and female biological sexes, pushing back against progressive ideologies surrounding gender fluidity.

By suspending federal diversity and inclusion programs, the Trump’s led government shifted the U.S.’s approach to such issues, signaling a break from previous advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights globally. This significant policy shift takes away the U.S historical role as a primary proponent of LGBTQ+ rights in developing nations, including Ghana.

For a country like Ghana, which has faced years of international pressure, the return of Mr. Trump to the White House opens the door to assert its cultural and moral values without fear of severe repercussions.

With the NDC in power and holding a decisive two-thirds majority in Parliament, the responsibility to act lies squarely on their shoulders. The government has all the tools and authority needed to ensure the Bill’s swift passage.

This will fulfill the promise to safeguard Ghana’s cultural and moral heritage. Delaying at this point would reflect poorly on the NDC’s commitment to upholding the values of the Ghanaian people.

Polls and public discourse indicate that Ghanaians overwhelmingly support the Bill, and the NDC, which is viewed largely as a people-centered party, must align itself with this majority view.

The U.S. under Trump’s leadership comes with a shift in priorities, divergent from the previous government. This greatly minimizes the potential for economic or diplomatic repercussions that were once a concern. Concomitantly, the current global climate and domestic context present an opportunity the NDC cannot afford to squander.

The Bill should be treated as a matter of national urgency, with expedited debates and decisions in Parliament. To ensure coherence, nationwide support, and effective process, traditional leaders, religious bodies, and civil society should be engaged. Framing of the Bill should be a reaffirmation of Ghana’s sovereignty and cultural values, rather than a reaction to external pressures.

With the U.S. no longer a unified global advocate for liberal LGBTQ+ policies, the NDC government must act now to ensure the passage of the Bill without delay. Delivering on this mandate, the Government would be acting to protect Ghanaian values and traditions. It is a defining moment for the government to demonstrate its commitment to the people and to ensure Ghana’s cultural heritage is preserved for generations to come.