By Ghana News 
Majority Chief Whip Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor has firmly rejected claims that President John Mahama is wavering on his commitment to the controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.
He maintains that the President fully intends to sign the legislation into law as soon as the final parliamentary procedures are concluded.
Recent discussions at Chatham House in London led some critics to speculate that the President was distancing himself from the bill. Dafeamekpor argues that these critics are deliberately misreading the President’s comments regarding the necessary procedural steps still required by Parliament.
After a bill is read a third time and passed, it must undergo post-passage scrutiny and drafting to ensure all approved amendments are correctly incorporated. This phase is a standard part of parliamentary practice, functioning similarly to how mortar holds bricks together after construction.
The process is vital for several reasons:
- It ensures that the final text of the bill is legally sound and free of drafting errors.
- It organizes the scattered amendments approved during the consideration stage into a coherent final document.
- The Majority Chief Whip expects this final technical work to be finished within a week or two, after which it will be sent to the President.
Dafeamekpor dismissed concerns regarding a lack of quorum during the bill’s passage as baseless and without merit. He noted that no objections were raised during the decisive stages of the proceedings, and current challenges are simply attempts to contest the results after the fact.
The Majority Chief Whip provided key insights into the political debate:
- He characterized the quorum arguments as an “empty storm” generated by those opposed to the bill.
- He emphasized that the claim of a constitutional breach is rebuttable and lacks material evidence to support it.
- According to Dafeamekpor, parliamentary procedure presumes a quorum unless it is formally challenged at the time of the vote.
Why does the NDC believe this bill is a test of political courage?
Political opponents allegedly hoped the bill would become a burden for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), acting like an “albatross” around the party’s neck. Instead, the party’s willingness to advance the legislation has surprised critics who did not expect such decisive action.
Dafeamekpor shared several assurances regarding the President’s stance:
- He personally engaged with the President in private, group, and leadership settings, and confirms the President remains fully committed.
- Signing the bill was a campaign promise that the President, as flagbearer, pledged to uphold.
- The President has previously assured members of the clergy that he will follow through on his commitment to sign the bill.
The Majority Chief Whip believes the bill is relatively straightforward and expects the remaining administrative work to be completed very soon. Once the document arrives at the President’s office, Dafeamekpor expresses full confidence that the signing will proceed without hesitation.
Also Read: Parliament Passes Anti-LGBTQ, Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill
Source: ghananewspage.com