President Mahama calls for the reintroduction of the LGBTQ bill as a government-sponsored initiative
President John Dramani Mahama has stated that the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, widely known as the Anti-Gay Bill, is effectively dead, as it did not receive presidential assent before the previous parliament’s term expired.
During a meeting with the Catholic Bishops, President Mahama highlighted that the bill’s failure provides an opportunity to foster a broader consensus on the issue.
“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, move it forward with a consensus,” he stated.
President Mahama proposed that the bill be reintroduced as a government bill rather than a private member’s bill, to ensure wider support and greater consultation with stakeholders.
“It probably should be a government bill with government behind it after consultation with all the stakeholders to see how we’re able to move this forward,” he proposed.
President Mahama also emphasized the importance of instilling family values in children through education, rather than depending solely on legislation.
“If we’re teaching our values in school, we won’t need to pass a bill to enforce our family values. More than giving the family values bill is as agreeing on a curriculum that inculcates these values into our children as they’re growing up so that we don’t need to legislate it,” he explained.
The President expressed his enthusiasm for continued discussions on the matter and looked forward to a review conference aimed at reaching a consensus.
“I’m looking forward to this review conference to reach a consensus on some of these issues,” he concluded.
