Priority Check: Why Wanlov is Applauding Mahama’s Shift on the “Anti-Gay” Bill

If there is one thing I’ve learned from decades of watching Ghanaian politics, it’s that when the economy gets tough, the “morality” distractors usually get the boot. This week, we saw a masterclass in political maneuvering as President John Dramani Mahama effectively put the controversial Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill on ice.

Speaking on March 31, the President didn’t mince words: his administration is laser-focused on the socio-economic fires currently burning in Ghana. For now, the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation has been relegated to the back burner, and frankly, it’s a move that smells a lot like common sense.

The Kubolor Approval

Never one to shy away from a fight, human rights activist and musician Wanlov the Kubolor wasted no time jumping onto X (the artist formerly known as Twitter) to celebrate. For Wanlov, this isn’t just “good news”—it’s a reality check for the bill’s sponsors.

Wanlov’s take? The agenda to push this bill through has become an untenable mess, especially when you look at our bank accounts.

The “EU” Elephant in the Room

Wanlov raised a point that many in the halls of power have been whispered for months: International Diplomacy.

• The Contradiction: How can Ghana seek deep-pocketed partnerships with the European Union—an entity built on human rights protections—while simultaneously passing laws that undermine them?
• The Backfire: Wanlov argues that our international commitments make the bill a non-starter if we want to keep our seat at the global table.

My Two Copes

Since 2021, this bill has been used as a political football. But as a senior observer of this game, it’s clear that Wanlov is right about one thing—fundamental rights shouldn’t be up for debate when the country is trying to navigate a complex global economy.

By prioritizing “bread and butter” over “bill and bigotry,” Mahama is signaling that he knows where the real struggle lies: in the pockets of the Ghanaian people, not in their private lives.