John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Candidate, has shared his perspective on the contentious anti-LGBTQ+ bill under review in Ghana. Speaking with the BBC, Mahama highlighted the importance of scrutinizing the bill thoroughly before deciding on its implementation, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of its contents.
While acknowledging that LGBTQ+ practices conflict with Ghana’s cultural, religious, and societal norms, Mahama stressed the necessity of ensuring that any legislation aligns with constitutional principles. He suggested that if any provisions of the bill are deemed problematic, they should be returned to Parliament for revision or referred to the Council of State for guidance.
“It is not an anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, but a Family Values Bill. It was approved unanimously by our Parliament. You see, it’s against our culture, I mean African culture, our religious faith – Muslim and Christian and all that.
“But I think we must look at the bill, and the president must indicate what he finds wrong with the bill and send the bill back to Parliament or alternatively, he must send it to the Council of State and get the Council of State’s advice,” he stated.
Mahama clarified that his stance is based on the specifics of the proposed legislation, noting that decisions on such issues require a nuanced and informed approach. He emphasized the bill’s framing as one rooted in “Family Values” rather than an outright opposition to LGBTQ+ rights and reiterated his commitment to a balanced evaluation process before signing any such legislation into law.
“It depends on what is in the bill,” he added.
