President John Dramani Mahama has expressed a preference for fostering family values through education rather than focusing on legislative closure for the controversial Anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
His comments during a discussion with Ghana’s Catholic Bishops Conference indicate a movement toward dialogue and moral education instead of legal standards.
At the gathering, Mahama stressed that Ghana’s cultural and moral values could be better safeguarded through an educational curriculum that imparts family values to the youth. He pointed out his inclination for more inclusive methods to promote traditional values rather than relying on a legal framework like the contentious LGBTQ+ bill.
The President also said that the contentious anti-LGBTQ+ legislation would have a greater likelihood of success and legitimacy if the government brought it forward.
“For the bill to have broader legitimacy and a higher chance of success, it should ideally come with government backing,” Mahama said.
His statements imply that his administration might adopt a more measured stance on LGBTQ+ matters instead of advocating for severe criminal sanctions.
This also indicates a shift away from the hardline position taken by some members of his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who have demanded the rapid enactment of the bill in its existing form.
The anti-LGBTQ+ bill, officially known as the “Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill,” has been among the most divisive topics in Ghanaian politics. It aims to criminalise LGBTQ+ activities and advocacy within the country.
Supporters argue that the bill reflects Ghanaian cultural and religious beliefs, while critics claim it violates fundamental human rights.
