The Minister-designate for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Hon. Sam George has been vetted by the Appointments Committee of Parliament. During vetting, his stance on LGBTQ+ issues became a central focus of questioning. Hon. Sam George vowed to reintroduce the anti-LGBTQ+ bill in the 9th Parliament.
Throughout the vetting, he defended his long-held views, stating that they had not changed despite evolving circumstances.
The vetting committee recounted a statement made by Hon. Sam George in 2014, where he expressed concerns over the excessive focus on the Alphabets community in Ghana. At the time, he stated;
“I believe that this matter has been over flogged and is being pushed just to suit a certain parochial political agenda. Irrespective of my personal opinion on homosexuals, the constitution of this country remains supreme, and it enjoins that everybody has rights, and their rights must be protected.”
Hon. Sam George Minister-designate for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations
In 2014 the same minister criticized the amount of time spent on LGBTQ+ issues when Ghana faced pressing socio-economic challenges, stating;
“The amount of airtime we have wasted—I call it wasted, not spent—talking about gays when we have pertinent issues of water, power, and potential petrol price hikes – Those are the things that bother everybody.”
Hon. Sam George Minister-designate for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations
Based on these past remarks, the committee asked Hon. Sam George whether his stance had evolved. In response, Hon. Sam George firmly stated that his position had remained unchanged since 2014. He clarified that his remarks were part of a 14-minute submission and that the segment being quoted was only 2 minutes and 14 seconds long. He emphasized;
“Homosexuality, as far as I am concerned, is an aberration of the mind. It has been my position in 2014. It is my position today.”
Hon. Sam George Minister-designate for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations
However, he acknowledged that the context had changed since 2014, explaining;
“In 2014, we did not have an advocacy office opened in Ghana to promote LGBTQ+. We didn’t have it on our screens and in our books like we did in 2020. So, the exigencies in 2014 were completely different from the exigencies in 2020 or 2021.”
Hon. Sam George Minister-designate for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations
When pressed further, the nominee firmly reiterated; “My views have not changed.”
Hon. Sam George’s Commitment to Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation
Beyond affirming his long-held views, Hon. Sam George reaffirmed his legislative commitment to combating LGBTQ+ advocacy in Ghana.
He referenced a speech by President John Dramani Mahama when he met the Catholic Bishops Conference after his swearing-in. In that speech, President Mahama acknowledged the need for further discussion on LGBTQ+ issues, stating;
“The convention is that all bills that are not assented to before the expiration of the life of Parliament expire. And so that bill effectively is dead. It has expired. I don’t know what the promoters of the bill intend to do, but I do think that we should have a conversation on it again.”
H.E President John Dramani Mahama
Hon. Sam George highlighted that this statement supports the need for continued legislative action on LGBTQ+ matters. He asserted his determination to reintroduce the anti-LGBTQ+ bill in the Ninth Parliament, either as a government-sponsored bill or as a private member’s bill. He declared;
“My position is that that bill is a critical part of our national life. Ghanaian family values and our children’s innocence must be protected. In this Ninth Parliament, that bill will be reintroduced—either as a private member’s bill or as a government’s bill. I will work with the government. If it’s the government’s bill, I will support it. If not, and it is my bill, I will bring it back again.”
“My chiefs sitting here, the chiefs from Ningo and Prampram, supported me in bringing that bill to the Eighth Parliament. They’ve asked me to reintroduce it in the Ninth Parliament. I will do so.”
Hon. Sam George Minister-designate for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations
During his vetting, Hon. Sam George maintained his long-held stance against LGBTQ+ advocacy in Ghana.
Despite contextual changes since 2014, he insisted that his core beliefs had not changed. He also reaffirmed his commitment to reintroducing the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, aligning with both traditional leaders’ wishes and President Mahama’s call for renewed discussions on the issue.
His unwavering position, combined with his promise to bring back the legislation in the Ninth Parliament, underscores his role as a leading advocate for preserving what he describes as Ghanaian family values and cultural heritage.
READ ALSO; Adekunle Gold Reflects on Overcoming Fear of Losing People
