President John Dramani Mahama has made his clearest statement yet on the controversial anti-LBGTQ+ bill, assuring religious leaders that his administration will respect the will of Parliament and the people of Ghana.
Speaking during the Christian Council of Ghana’s courtesy call on him in Accra on Tuesday, November 18, President Mahama clarified the status of the bill and reaffirmed his government’s stance on family and social values.
He explained that the previous version of the bill “was never submitted to the President for assent. So it was not submitted and the President did not assent.” By constitutional provisions, he added, “any bill that is not assented to by the President before the expiration of the life of Parliament expires.”
Following this lapse, the President noted that the legislative process would need to begin again. “And so it means that the bill has to be relayed in the House,” he said, adding that the Speaker of Parliament has already indicated his readiness to facilitate the re-laying once Parliament resumes.
Reiterating his alignment with the values of the Christian Council, President Mahama stressed that his government’s position on issues of marriage, gender, and family remains firm and consistent. “Marriage is between a man and a woman. A person’s gender is determined at birth. And then also that the family is the foundation of our nation. That is our position.”
He assured the Council that there is complete harmony between their stance and that of his administration. “There are no questions or equivocations about what we believe. I believe that we are completely aligned with the Christian Council in terms of your belief.”
President Mahama further emphasised that Parliament must be allowed to debate, amend if necessary, and ultimately make a decision on the bill. “Let Parliament debate it. And if there are any amendments or whatever that have to be done, if the Parliament of the people of Ghana endorse the bill and votes on it and passes it and it comes to me as President,” he declared, “I will sign it.”
His remarks signal not only a commitment to due process but also a pledge to uphold prevailing social values should the legislative body reaffirm its support for the bill.
