The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has stated that he would base his decision to approve the controversial anti-LGBTQ bill on its specific provisions if elected.
Speaking to BBC Africa on Wednesday, December 4, Mahama emphasised, “It is not an anti-LGBTQI bill; it is a family values bill.” He explained that Parliament unanimously approved the bill and noted that LGBTQI practices contradict African culture and religious beliefs. Mahama added that the president must either point out issues with the bill and return it to Parliament or seek advice from the Council of State.
When asked whether he would have taken the same approach as president, Mahama replied, “That is what I would have done.” On whether he would sign the bill, he stated, “It depends on what is in the bill.”
Background
The “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill,” recently passed by Parliament, has triggered legal challenges in Ghana’s Supreme Court. Legal practitioner Richard Dela Sky argues that the bill violates several provisions of the 1992 Constitution, including those protecting fundamental human rights. He also accuses the Speaker of Parliament of breaching Article 108(a)(ii) by allowing the passage of a bill with financial implications.
In another case, Dr Amanda Odoi has raised concerns about specific provisions in the bill and is seeking a restraining order to prevent it from being forwarded to the president for assent. Both lawsuits aim to halt the bill’s implementation, citing constitutional violations and procedural flaws.
