President John Dramani Mahama, during a meeting with the clergy, underscored the need for a government-sponsored approach to the controversial LGBTQ+ Bill, officially known as the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill.
His remarks reflected a commitment to fostering unity and ensuring that the legislative process aligns with Ghanaian values while being inclusive of all stakeholders.
Addressing the current status of the bill, Mahama explained, “The bill, as far as I know, did not get to the president for assent before the expiration of the last parliament’s term. The convention is that any bill not assented to within the life of a parliament expires. Effectively, that bill is dead.”
He emphasized the importance of a fresh conversation around the bill. “We should revisit this issue with a focus on consensus. If we decide to move forward, it shouldn’t be a private member’s bill. It should probably be a government bill, backed by extensive consultations with all stakeholders,” he suggested.
Mahama also highlighted the broader societal context of the debate, calling for the integration of family values into the educational curriculum.
“More than legislating family values, we need to agree on a curriculum that inculcates these values in our children as they grow. When values are part of our upbringing, there may be less need to legislate them,” he noted.
The new president acknowledged past disruptions in government transitions and called for an end to practices like the takeover of government offices by party supporters.
“We need to act differently. The people of Ghana have placed their confidence in us to handle things with maturity and order. Invading government offices and other such actions must stop,” he appealed.
