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14th January 2025 11:44:06 AM
3 mins readPresident John Dramani Mahama has expressed his desire for the reintroduction of the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, officially known as the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, as a government-sponsored initiative rather than a private member's bill.Addressing a gathering of clergymen, President Mahama clarified the bill's current status, stating, “As far as I know, the bill did not get to the President for assent.
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And so the convention is that all bills that are not assented to before the expiration of the life of Parliament expired, and so that Bill is effectively dead, it has expired.”Mahama stressed the importance of national consensus in revisiting the bill, emphasizing a collaborative approach.
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He remarked, “I do think that we should have a conversation on it again, so that all of us, if we decide to move that bill forward, [we do so] with a consensus.”The former president further proposed that the bill be reintroduced with formal government backing following stakeholder consultations.
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“I don't know what the promoters of the bill want to do, but we should have a conversation about it again… probably it shouldn't be a private members bill. It should be a government bill with government behind it after consultation with all the stakeholders to see how to move this forward,” he explained.
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Before his inauguration, Mahama had previously maintained that his decision on the bill would be guided by a detailed constitutional review. Speaking in an interview with BBC Africa on December 4, he clarified: “It is not an anti-LGBTQI Bill; it is a Family Values Bill. It was approved unanimously by our Parliament.
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[LGBTQI] is against our African culture, it is against our religious faith, but I think we must look at the Bill, and the president must indicate what he finds wrong with that bill and send it back to Parliament or alternatively he must send it to the Council of State and get the Council of State’s advice.”When questioned whether he would sign the bill into law if elected, Mahama responded, “It depends on what is in the Bill.
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” He reiterated that he would have scrutinized the bill thoroughly with advisory bodies before making a final decision. “That is what I would have done,” he affirmed.The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill seeks to criminalize LGBTQ+ activities, including advocacy, promotion, and financial support for related causes.
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If passed, it would introduce punitive measures against individuals and organizations involved in such activities.Supporters of the bill argue it is necessary to uphold Ghanaian cultural and moral values against external influences. However, human rights organizations oppose the bill, citing concerns about the violation of fundamental freedoms, including expression, association, and equality.
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The bill previously faced legal challenges from journalist Richard Dela Sky and Dr. Amanda Odoi, who argued that it lacked the required parliamentary quorum during its passage. However, the Supreme Court dismissed the challenges, with Justice Lovelace Johnson clarifying that a bill can only face constitutional scrutiny after receiving presidential assent.
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Meanwhile, Ningo-Prampram MP Sam Nartey George has asserted that President Mahama would have no choice but to sign the bill into law if he assumes office. “That is a misconception that has been put out. I listened to that interview. President Mahama has been clear that he will sign that bill and he has no option than to sign that bill,” Sam George stated during a media interaction.
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Tamale South MP Haruna Iddrisu has also indicated plans to present recommendations to President Mahama on the bill. Though he withheld details, he expressed confidence that his suggestions would balance national values with constitutional alignment.
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“I have some ideas on the LGBTQ but I am yet to share them with the president as to how he can re-own the bill, get national consensus around it, and be consistent with the laws of Ghana and the constitution," Iddrisu stated at the National Muslim Prayer and Thanksgiving event on January 10, 2025.“There is a way to deal with it.
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